Aflevering aardwarmte in...


Geothermal Energy


First geothermal heat network in the region

17 Februari 2011- A few kilometres from TU Delft greenhouse farmer Ammerlaan has recently started heating his greenhouses and a number of neighbouring companies using geothermal heat. The students of the Delft Aardwarmte Project (DAP) have supported Ammerlaan with knowledge and hands on activities from the start. Their involvement in the drilling process has already given them a wealth of information and they will keep taking measurements in the future. Ammerlaan not only heats his own company with the geothermal heat, but also two neighbouring greenhouse farmers, a school, a swimming pool and a sports centre. On Thursday 17 February 2011 the geothermal heat network will be officially opened. On Saturday 19 February members of the public are free to come and have a look.

DAP supports greenhouse farmers

The Delft Geothermal Project (DAP) was launched in 2007 with the aim to provide TU Delft with sustainable heating through setting up a geothermal trial in the TU surroundings. The project also actively supports greenhouse farmers in the region with the development of their own geothermal initiatives, amongst other things by allowing them to use the TU Delft licence to prospect for geothermal energy. DAP also advises the municipality and provincial authorities on geothermy. The geothermal wells offer a wealth of research material and data that are used in education and research at TU Delft.

Geothermal heat on campus TU Delft

The opportunities to drill for geothermal energy on or close to the TU Delft campus are currently investigated. Several parties, such as energy company Eneco and Energie Beheer Nederland, have signed a contract about this with DAP. The results of the investigation are expected in spring 2011. The companies will subsequently decide whether it is viable for them to produce geothermal heat at TU Delft.

 

 
(Photo: the geyser at Geysir in Iceland, Karl-Heinz Wolf, TU Delft)

 

What is geothermal heat?

At a depth of between 1,500 and 3,000 metres below ground, the water present in water-retaining layers has a temperature of around 55 to 110 degrees Celsius. The heat from these water-retaining layers - also known as aquifers - can be brought to the surface and used to heat buildings. If the temperature is high enough, it can also be used to generate electricity. Geothermal heat is not the same as the temporary storage of heat in groundwater, for example in the summer, so that it can be pumped to the surface for use in winter. This is called heat/cold storage.

How is it extracted?

In order to bring the terrestrial heat to the surface, drilling is carried out into the deep-lying water-retaining layers. Two wells are drilled, whereby hot water is pumped up from the earth's interior. Groundwater of a hundred and fifty degrees is used to generate electricity, but water of forty degrees is sufficient to heat greenhouses.

 

(Photo: geothermal heat in Iceland, Karl-Heinz Wolf, TU Delft)

Delft region

Iceland is well known as an ideal geothermal region. According to figures of the Icelandic National Energy Authority, 90% of the heating and 20% of the electricity supply in Iceland is generated with the help of terrestrial heat. But the Netherlands, and the region of Delft in particular, also has geothermal potential. Oil exploration and seismic investigations carried out in the past have revealed much about the composition of the earth far below the surface of the Delft and Pijnacker-Nootdorp area. Beneath the campus of TU Delft, large volumes of water are present at convenient depths. Furthermore, there are many potential customers for geothermal heat in the region: the greenhouses in the Westland and in the area of Pijnacker-Nootdorp and Bleiswijk.  


(DAP model, Delft Aardwarmte Project)

Delft Geothermal Project

The Delft Geothermal Project aims to provide TU Delft with sustainable heating through setting up a geothermal trial in the TU surroundings. The project also actively supports greenhouse farmers in the region with the development of their geothermal initiatives, and advises the municipality and provincial authorities on geothermy.
This has resulted in the development of two projects in Pijnacker-Nootdorp, collaborations in the municipalities of Landsingerland and Westland between greenhouse farmers and municipalities, and a number of international scientific publications in the field of geothermy and terrestrial heat.

Vrijenban geothermal network

The Delft Geothermal Project Foundation, the municipality of Pijnacker-Nootdorp and TU Delft are working in close cooperation on the realisation of geothermal projects in the region. They collaborate in the Vrijenban geothermal network.

In order to reach the water-retaining layers beneath the campus of TU Delft, it is necessary to drill to a depth of between one and a half and two kilometres. TU Delft is in discussions with energy company Eneco and Energie Beheer Nederland concerning the construction and operation of the geothermal system on the campus.

Read more about and find contact details from the Delft Geothermal Project.

Press releases on the TU Delft geothermal project

External links


 

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