In this section, we speak with key figures who have made a significant contribution to the development and realisation of Geothermie Delft: partners, suppliers, experts, and government bodies. Read about their experiences, motivations, and lessons learned.
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How do you at Gaia Energy ensure that heat extraction in the city is 100% safe?
Aad: "At Gaia Energy, we comply with the strictest regulations in the Netherlands, but we also go a step further. Our internal business processes are comparable to the systems used in the process industry: we monitor the plant 24/7. Should anything deviate from standard values, the safety system intervenes immediately. If necessary, it will bring the entire plant to an automatic, controlled, and safe standstill. Together with a team of specialists and professionals at Gaia Energy, we safeguard this security day and night."
What happens when the plant is temporarily shut down for maintenance? "The people in the city and on campus who consume the heat won't notice a thing during maintenance work. During planned maintenance, the combined heat and power (CHP) plant takes over the heat supply entirely, exactly how heat was supplied before the geothermal plant was installed. Because the plant is brand new, Geothermie Delft will not need to carry out structural maintenance for the time being, and the facility will run continuously. In the future, we will plan maintenance work in close consultation with TU Delft, preferably during periods when heat demand is at its lowest. We can safely go offline during the warmer seasons. This intensive coordination and partnership with TU Delft is crucial, because we feel responsible for both facilities, which share a single task and goal: providing security of supply for our users."
In your role as Operations & Maintenance Manager, what has changed now that GTD is operational? "Fundamentally, my role hasn’t changed much; I am ultimately responsible for the safe and stable operation of this plant, as well as the other facilities Gaia Energy is responsible for as Operator. We always work with long-term service contracts that we sign with our clients—in this case, with GTD. However, the arrival of Geothermie Delft has made our playing field a lot bigger and more challenging. In Delft, it’s no longer about a single, isolated plant, but about a network of complex sources and systems that need to work together smartly. That is why we are busy expanding our team at Gaia Energy with additional specialists. What I enjoy most is the close collaboration with the GTD team. It allows us to deliver sustainable heat in a smarter, more effective way."
Is the Delft plant currently performing in line with the expectations Geothermie Delft calculated beforehand? "Expectations were incredibly high, but we are more than delivering on them. In fact, we are performing even better than predicted! In the first few weeks, the geothermal source was already generating so much heat that TU Delft's CHP plant could go on standby much earlier than planned. It’s fantastic to see the plant performing so strongly already, to the point where we could leave the entire heat production to the source at certain times of the day."
What does the O&M (Operations & Maintenance) process look like? "Prevention is better than cure. Even during the construction phase, we analysed every possible technical failure to reduce risks to zero. We work with a strict maintenance plan that goes beyond what legislation requires, allowing us to preempt faults and keep the plant running safely for decades to come.
Currently, our biggest technical challenge is finding enough new staff. Just like the rest of the industry, we are fishing in a shallow pool for technical talent. But let’s be honest: who wouldn't want to help build the energy transition at a leading pioneer in the geothermal sector? Technical specialists who want to help make the Netherlands more sustainable are always welcome to give me a call!"
Who are the people on-site on a daily basis? "They are highly trained, dedicated professionals who are incredibly driven to provide the city with heat. It’s a close-knit team that always supports one another, but is also always up for a laugh. They give our clients peace of mind by responding rapidly to changes in heat demand. They are true professionals with a real passion for the job."
How is the daily division of tasks arranged between the operator and GTD? "GTD has outsourced its operational responsibilities to Gaia Energy through a long-term service agreement. This contracting model gives GTD complete peace of mind, leaving the day-to-day operational processes to be monitored by professional operators. Furthermore, the facilities managed by Gaia Energy run autonomously. Once GTD's plant is optimally configured, the same applies to the facility in Delft. This means they produce safely without requiring a Technical Operations Coordinator (TOC) to be present at all times; we don't work in shifts like heavy industry does. The TOCs manage their own locations and drop by periodically for inspections. They plan and supervise maintenance and manage external specialists.
My role is primarily to maintain a helicopter view: I ensure everything runs safely and efficiently. I keep our clients informed of performance, manage the budgets for major maintenance, and ensure that lessons learned from malfunctions are applied immediately. It’s intensive and challenging work, but everyone's immense commitment makes it a joy to do."
What are you most proud of in your role as Operations & Maintenance Manager? "It’s a combination of things: when the plant runs safely, we produce plenty of sustainable heat, and our consumers are satisfied. It also gives me a lot of satisfaction that researchers at TU Delft use our data for research to accelerate the sustainability transition across the Netherlands.
I don’t actually stop to think about what we do at Gaia Energy very often, but this interview has made me realise once again that it’s not just a job. It is fantastic to carry the responsibility for such a pioneering site and to work for a company that truly makes a difference."
