Horticulture is leading the way for geothermal energy in Holland

Four wells, 2,300 meters deep, seven kilometers of underground pipes, eight heat exchangers, 90 degree temperature water and a fifth of the heat demand of horticulture. That about sums up the geothermal power station at Agriport A7 in the north of Holland. It was officially opened last month.

The new plant is the largest geothermal energy station in the Netherlands, both in power production and the number of wells. The station will fill a fifth of the heat demand of the connected greenhouse businesses. In order to transfer the heat from the saline groundwater to the heat network, eight heat exchangers have been placed.

Geothermal energy, data centers and new buildings
According to Robert Kielstra, CEO of the energy company at Agriport A7, operating a geothermal project differs from that of windmills or solar panels. "It's not a matter of simply hooking the thing on. There is much more to it." Kielstra furthermore said, that the technique is promising, but it is hard work to make it happen. "We have to work with open source knowledge, because the projects are too expensive otherwise."