Trias Westland expands operation with 2nd geothermal doublet

Virtual tour Trias Westland geothermal plant, Netherlands (screenshot)

Dutch geothermal operator Trias Westland, an initiative of HVC, Capturam, Royal FloraHolland and a large group of greenhouse horticultural entrepreneurs, has successfully started operation of its second geothermal doublet (set of two geothermal wells).  The partners in Trias Westland saw a great importance to sustainability and see geothermal energy as an important alternative to natural gas.

The heat produced, good for more than 40 MWth, is equivalent to the energy consumption of more than 40,000 households per year. With the expansion of Trias Westland, we are supplying sustainable heat to a total of 54 greenhouse horticultural entrepreneurs in the area, Royal FloraHolland and 345 homes in the Lier.

By turning the lever, Trias Westland’s second geothermal doublet has been put into use. Production is now stable and will be gradually increased in the coming period. In preparation, the process and circuit of the first doublet of Trias Westland has been expanded and linked to the second doublet, so that continuous heat supply is guaranteed. 275 hectares of plants, flowers and vegetables will soon be heated sustainably via the heat network. In October, the first heat will be supplied to new-build homes in the ‘Liermolen’ development area.

Innovative inner pipe

In the summer of 2020, the second geothermal doublet of Trias Westland was drilled to a depth of 2,300 metres. The company described having been the first in the geothermal sector to deploy an innovative technical concept. This is aimed at providing the entire length of the geothermal well with inner tubes of glass fiber epoxy (GRE) in one go. This makes them completely corrosion resistant.

From gas to electricity

With the expansion of the production capacity, two cogeneration installations (CHP) have also been installed. Electricity is required to get the sustainable heat to the connected participants. We will now convert the gas that comes with the production of geothermal heat into electricity via CHPs. This generates the electricity demand from the pumps and the heat supply directly on site.

Main pipeline

Geothermal energy ‘for everyone’ is of great importance for stable and competitive energy costs and the ability to sell top products on the international market. It offers a sustainable alternative to the use of natural gas and opportunities on the way to a natural gas-free energy supply in Westland. A large part of the Trias Westland heat network functions as a main pipeline within Westland Heat System (WSW), the regionally planned heat network in Westland. This upgrade was made possible by a subsidy of 3.7 million from the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality.

By and for entrepreneurs

Trias Westland is a geothermal company by and for entrepreneurs in the Westland greenhouse horticulture. In July 2020, the drilling for the second doublet of the production and injection well started, followed by the construction of the heat network and now the second geothermal source is in operation. With a research borehole at a depth of 4 kilometers and two geothermal sources at 2.3 kilometers, Trias Westland is a unique geothermal energy project.

Source: Trias Westland