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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In the spotlight: Theo de Bot is the Technical Operational Coordinator (TOC) at Gaia Energy. He ensures that the pumps at Geothermie Delft keep running continuously, allowing heat to flow safely to the campus and the city. Because while Delft sleeps, Geothermie Delft is busy extracting heat from deep beneath the TU Delft grounds.
Theo acts as the 'eyes and ears' of GTD. For him, the working day does not start behind a screen: "The moment I drive onto the site and hear the installation humming smoothly without any unusual noises, that provides the first sense of satisfaction."
Theo: "Together with a small, close-knit team, we manage the geothermal installation 24/7. This means that through monitoring and adjustments, we fine-tune the plant to perfectly match Delft’s demand for heat. I prepare the operational tasks and supervise the site: ensuring that work is carried out safely and that everything is left neat and tidy."
Theo: "Safety and continuity are paramount at GTD. Cameras and sensors tell you a lot, but not everything. We have only recently gone into operation. For now, I still do daily rounds across the GTD site and past the machinery to hear, feel, and see whether everything is working 100\% correctly and safely. In this phase, that is the main reason we are present on-site. I pay particular attention to any unusual sounds and vibrations from the pumps and motors. This allows us to make adjustments and proactively resolve issues before they turn into faults."
Theo: "We work very closely with our partners at TU Delft's Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plant. We regularly pop in to see one another and coordinate our schedules. Should our installation need to be shut down briefly for maintenance, the CHP plant seamlessly takes over the supply. The people on campus and the local residents won't notice a thing."
Theo: "The fact that we started up this site after construction almost completely 'by the book'. It is a modern, complex installation right in the middle of the city. When I head home at the end of the day knowing the system has been improved slightly or a fault has been resolved, that genuinely makes me happy.
For me, the best part is the excellent collaboration: with a small team of three TOCs and Aad van Haaften, the Asset Manager for Operations and Maintenance, we really manage to pull it off together."
I hope to be walking around here for a very long time to come!"
