Pieter Varekamp, councilor for energy transition for the municipality of Westland, gave the green light for the Maasdijk Geothermal Heat Project on Tuesday, March 8 by placing a gutter element with a caterpillar crane. The project is primarily aimed at horticulturalists in the region, who choose to heat 4,3 km2 of greenhouses sustainably. It is also aimed at residents who no longer wish to use natural gas. On the construction site conductors have already been placed at a depth of 145 meters to enable the next phase - the drilling - to take place.
From left to right: Jacco Besuijen (chairman of Maasdijk heat cooperation), Tarek Hopman (business developer at HVC), alderman Pieter Varekamp (municipality of Westland) and Marco van Soerland (director of heat at HVC).
In addition to the councilor, Dion van Steensel (general manager of HVC) and Jacco Besuijen (chairman of the Maasdijk heat cooperation board) were also present at the kick-off. As executor and investor of the project, HVC contributes to the realization of the heat transition in the Westland region. This is done in cooperation with the Maasdijk heat cooperative.
Aardwarmte Maasdijk is a collaboration between heat cooperative Maasdijk and HVC to stimulate and realize sustainable heat for and with greenhouse companies in the Westland region, the Netherlands. "Together with our members, we are looking for affordable alternatives that reduce the use of fossil fuels. We underline the need for sustainability and as growers, together with HVC we want to put our shoulders to the wheel", says Jacco Besuijen of the growers' cooperative.
Strong and safe
HVC always develops a geothermal heat source in collaboration with the municipality and the local area. Together we look for a suitable location. Dion van Steensel: "There has to be enough space both above and below ground. We also check whether there are sufficient customers who can make use of geothermal heat."
For the past two years, the residents of the geothermal location have been involved in the development of a possible geothermal project. As the realization of the 6 geothermal wells gets closer, the environmental consultation with residents will be more intensive.
Reliable alternative
Alderman Pieter Varekamp states that geothermal heat is a reliable, sustainable, and affordable source of energy. "From a sustainability point of view, geothermal heat was started in Westland. And given the uncertainty, both availability and price of current fossil sources, geothermal heat is now even more interesting. With the start of work on the geothermal heat source and the realization of the heat cluster, geothermal heat becomes widely available. And that is good for the future of greenhouse horticulture in Westland."
HVC opens location
HVC has also opened an office in De Lier. "The heat from a residential area is relatively small compared to greenhouse horticulture. Connecting a residential area to a heating system can certainly be interesting. Collaborations that drive horticulture, project developers, Westland municipality, and HVC. With the opening of the office we underline our approach", says Dion van Steensel.
How does it work?
Geothermal heat is warm water pumped from the ground and used to heat homes, greenhouses, and buildings. Two wells are needed for this, also known as doublets. In one well water is pumped up, where a heat exchanger extracts the heat. In the other well, the cooled water is pumped back into the ground. The heat is distributed via the local heat network for use in homes, buildings, and greenhouses. Naturally, this is done safely. With the industry-standard Sustainable Well Design, the sector guarantees that geothermal heat can be extracted safely and responsibly without risk to the drinking water supply.
Trias Westland in Naaldwijk
HVC previously realized, in cooperation with various parties, the geothermal heat project Trias Westland with two geothermal heat wells at a depth of 2.3 kilometers in Naaldwijk. Trias Westland is a geothermal heat company for entrepreneurs in Westland greenhouse horticulture. The heat produced by Trias Westland is supplied to horticulturalists and homes (Lierkwartier) in the immediate vicinity. The cooperation with entrepreneurs in the approach of Trias Westland has resulted in a large support base among greenhouse horticulture companies, governments, and financiers.
Source: HVC