The 9,6 hectare operation of Dutch grower Roland Gielen was one of the first greenhouse companies to built a greenhouse at the Californië greenhouse area in the province of Limburg.
Ready for the future
Roland is now also one of the three companies at Californië who's working on a new geothermal well to heat his greenhouses. Roland: "It is an investment to be ready for the future. Geothermal energy ensures a relatively low energy cost long-term. This way, I am less affected by fluctuations in the energy market. And when the geothermal source is up and running, I will only use natural gas to run our cogen when we need to have the lights turned on. When they’re out I won’t be using fossil fuel and will greatly contribute to the reduction of CO2 emissions."
Demand for sustainable product
"The great thing is that recently a potential customer from the UK specifically asked for sustainable product. He liked what we are doing. So soon we will be supplying him with sustainable tomatoes. Great, isn’t it?"
Roland hopes that the second geothermal well will soon begin supplying heat. Currently the pipes that will transport the heat from the geothermal energy source to his company are being welded and dug in and the heat exchangers are being placed. The heat supply should be ready in December.