Geothermie Groep Nederland (GGN) has drawn a line under plans to extract geothermal heat at 25 locations within the horticultural area near Erica, the Netharlands. GGN and local horticulturists failed to reach an agreement on the purchase of geothermal heat. The growers see more use for heat pumps.
"A great pity," responds a disappointed GGN chairman André Mol on Dutch broadcast RTV Drenthe. He understands why the horticulturists opted for heat pumps, noting that the technology has been made more appealing through subsidies, partly due to lobbying from the agriculture and greenhouse horticulture sectors. In contrast, geothermal energy lacks such subsidies, which has led banks to hesitate in financing the required investments. "However, it's very frustrating that this project cannot proceed for that reason," he adds.
The growers found the geothermal plan "unconvincing," explained Martijn van Geel, chairman of Spes Nostra, the growers' regional cooperative, in an interview with the broadcaster.