[imagesource:pixnio]

You can always rely on the Dutch to come up with clever ideas. Perhaps living below sea level has instilled a respect for the fragility of our species, but they seem to be ahead of the curve when it comes to sustainability.

After proving that solar panel roadways are effective, they are now looking at piping heat from an extinct undersea volcano to warm their homes.

Ynze Salverda, a board member of the Stichting Ontwikkeling Geothermie Friesland (Stogef), says that Holland’s reliance on wind farms is not the answer to its energy woes. The wind turbines dot the landscape in the soup bowl-shaped country, and besides putting a lot of pressure on the land, these energy generating fans are not much use when the wind dies down.

Salverda believes sustainable energy could be generated underground using residual warmth from the Zuidwal volcano deep under the Wadden Sea.

The Netherlands’ history as a major gas extractor means it has huge amounts of subsurface data. “We found out that there is a layer of porous stone, it’s nice and warm, about 90C, so wouldn’t it be an idea to use geothermal energy,” he said.

“We want to take it in our own hands and work with the local government. Just like food, we need energy to be reliable, affordable and it should not be commercialised.”

The public energy company Energie Beheer Nederland believes 25% of Dutch heat demand could eventually be met by geothermal energy.

Using a geothermal “doublet” technique, water can be pumped up from the ground in a production well and the heat extracted in a heat exchanger before the water is reinjected via an injection well.

Phil Vardon, a professor of energy geomechanics at Delft University of Technology, is leading the science programme for a 2.5km-deep geothermal project being drilled in Delft that will heat the university campus plus the equivalent of 10,000 houses.

“The volcano is a bit of a gimmick, but what it does seem to have done is to increase the temperature locally.”

Energiewerkplaats Fryslân, a network of professionals supporting local energy initiatives, has published an “exploratory investigation” into the potential of 500-metre or 3km-deep structures plus a district heating system, with a total estimated cost of about €188 million (R3.6 billion).

The Dutch believe that “technically, it is certainly very achievable”, and knowing them, they will most likely pull this feat off. Drilling is expected to begin in 2027.

[source:guardian]