Wednesday afternoon marked the official launch of the geothermal heat supply to the new residential area of Westmade-Noord. A total of 424 homes will now be heated using geothermal energy provided by Aardwarmte Vogelaar in a new neighborhood located next to the Opti-flor's greenhouses.
Opti-flor plays a key role in the distribution of geothermal heat to the nearby residential area, serving as a central hub in the system, with energy delivered by HVC.
The official opening ceremony by resident Melanie Zweedijk-Spaans, René Hendriks, director-owner Opti-flor, Peter Valstar, alderman of the municipality Westland, Robert Crabbendam, business manager HVC, and Danny van den Berg, director Aardwarmte Vogelaer
Among the speakers on Wednesday afternoon were Danny van den Berg from Aardwarmte Vogelaer and René Hendriks from Opti-flor. Danny emphasized how remarkable it is to be able to supply geothermal heat directly to homes, something made possible thanks to the commitment of entrepreneurs.
"The horticulture sector is essential in making these kinds of projects a reality," he said, highlighting the important role that growers have in the shift to sustainable energy solutions.
Danny van den Berg, Aardwarmte Vogelaer
René Hendriks, owner of orchid specialist Opti-flor, shared insights about his company and the origins of Aardwarmte Vogelaer. He expressed his enthusiasm that the project is now not only serving horticultural businesses but is also able to supply heat to residential homes.
Opti-flor itself runs largely on geothermal energy but also uses solar panels and heat pumps to further reduce CO₂ emissions. "We've already achieved a 70% reduction in recent years," René noted, proudly. While he acknowledged that Opti-Flor still uses CHP (combined heat and power) units due to its financial benefits, he also pointed out that new legislation will change this in the near future.
By investing in geothermal energy, René says that the company is thinking ahead to phase out natural gas entirely. "We'll make sure you stay nice and warm," he promised those in attendance.
René Hendriks, Opti-flor
Representatives from both HVC and the Municipality of Westland also took the stage. Alderman Peter Valstar remarked, "We're standing here today thanks to Opti-flor. A clear choice was made to provide this residential area with sustainable heat, a choice that benefits the entire Municipality of Westland."
Valstar highlighted that Westland is one of the few municipalities in the Netherlands not yet marked in red on the national grid congestion map, indicating there are still no serious issues with energy capacity. "That's all thanks to the greenhouse sector here in Westland," he added.
Alderman Peter Valstar
After the speeches from dignitaries and project partners, one of the new homeowners was invited to help with the official opening. With a symbolic turn of a wheel, the geothermal heat supply was ceremoniously declared active. The celebration continued with a guided tour, giving attendees a behind-the-scenes look at how the sustainable heat system works, from source to home.
Tour by Roy Stijger of Opti-flor
The tour was led by Roy Stijger of Opti-flor, who is partly responsible for the company's energy management, his role including ensuring that residents have reliable access to hot water at home.
"Geothermal heat can't adjust to fluctuations in demand; it's a constant supply," he explained. "At Opti-flor, we act as a buffer: we absorb the heat when residents aren't using it and release it when they do."
This smart coordination between the greenhouse and the residential network ensures efficient use of geothermal energy, benefiting both the horticultural operation and the surrounding community, he explained.
Robert Crabbendam of HVC. "More important than saving CO₂ is using heat from our own soil. We make ourselves less dependent on foreign countries and also save a lot of electricity through things that are already installed."
Aardwarmte Vogelaer is currently developing a second geothermal installation on Arckelweg in Poeldijk. By 2025, the combined capacity of the two geothermal projects will serve a total of 34 horticulture businesses and 424 homes in the Westmade-Noord residential area in Monster.
The meeting attracted quite a few local residents.