This week, an important step was taken in the Geothermal Delft (GTD) project, the new geothermal heat source on the TU Delft campus. The consortium behind GTD B.V. has taken the decision to make the follow-up investment to realize the geothermal source and to start the research program. This means that the we can start drilling the geothermal heat wells this summer.
The role of geothermal energy in Delft
Against the background of the current energy crisis, accelerating the energy transition is becoming more urgent every day. CO₂ emissions must also be reduced by 55\% by 2030 compared to 1990. By then, 1.5 million households in the Netherlands and more than 15,000 households in Delft must have been made sustainable and natural gas-free. Geothermal Delft plays a key role in this for the TU Delft campus and the city of Delft. This source will provide sustainable heat and scientific insights.
By taking this investment decision, TU Delft, Aardyn, Shell and Energie Beheer Nederland (EBN) are taking an essential step forward in the project.
Valuable lessons for future projects
The combination of scientific research and heat supply is unique. Tim van der Hagen, Rector Magnificus and Chairman of the Executive Board of TU Delft:
“The geothermal resource on our campus is a research and education facility of national importance. The unique collaboration between our researchers, the business community, government and the municipality of Delft presents an opportunity to further develop geothermal energy from a scientific point of view. These insights can be used for the further development of geothermal energy in a complex urban environment. Our campus will soon be using a sustainable heat source and, at a later stage, this will also apply to residential areas in Delft. This makes Geothermal Delft an important step forward towards a sustainable, CO₂-neutral campus and city.”
Supply of heat to Delft
Supplying geothermal heat to the campus and the city and conducting scientific research is the main goal for GTD. The development of the heat network is part of this. This heat network brings the sustainable heat to residential areas in Delft. It is being developed by a collaboration of the housing associations, NetVerder and the municipality of Delft.
Maaike Zwart, Alderman for Sustainability at the Municipality of Delft: “The energy transition is important and urgent. Delft wants to be climate neutral by 2050. We do this, among other things, by making homes natural gas-free and by using sustainable heat sources. Geothermal energy and the construction of the heat network are essential to continue to heat our Delft homes and businesses in an affordable manner in the future. I am therefore very happy that we can now take concrete follow-up steps.”
