The geothermal project Polanen has officially started supplying heat to greenhouse growers in the Westland region of the Netherlands. The project marks a further step in the region's energy transition, where geothermal energy is playing an increasingly important role in reducing reliance on natural gas.
© Warmte Netwerk Westland
Third HVC geothermal site in Westland
Polanen is the third geothermal location developed by HVC in Westland, following Trias Westland and Aardwarmte Maasdijk. The site, located along the Madeweg near Monster, consists of one doublet—two wells drilled to a depth of approximately 2.3 kilometres. From this depth, heat is extracted from deep geothermal layers to supply greenhouses and residential buildings.
© Warmte Netwerk Westland
Heat capacity and supply
Testing and preparation confirmed that the Polanen doublet can deliver around 22.5 MWth of thermal capacity, comparable to the average heat demand of approximately 24,000 households. Contracted greenhouse companies account for a connected capacity of around 18 MWth.
Heat is distributed via the regional heat network to the connected companies. Polanen forms part of the broader geothermal network in Westland, which aims to expand towards a total system capacity of approximately 500 MWth by 2030.
© Koppert Cress
Involved parties
Aardwarmte Polanen is a collaboration between HVC, WNW and Warmtecoöperatie Polanen. The heat cooperative consists of 50 greenhouse companies located between Monster, 's-Gravenzande and Naaldwijk. Of these members, 23 companies are being connected to the heat network in phases, enabling a growing number of growers to use locally sourced, sustainable heat.
Arjan ten Elshof, Director of Heat at HVC, said: "With the commissioning of Aardwarmte Polanen, we are once again adding a geothermal source to the Westland heat system. This reduces growers' dependence on natural gas, accelerates the region's sustainability transition and lowers CO₂ emissions. Thanks to the cooperation with many partners, dozens of entrepreneurs can now switch to a reliable, local heat source—something we are proud of."
Evelien Brederode of Warmte Netwerk Westland (a partnership between HVC and Capturam) added: "Polanen is an important link in the regional heat system. By connecting multiple sources, supply security for Westland growers and residents increases. The constructive cooperation with growers and HVC forms the foundation of this success. Mutual trust has made it possible to realise this complex project and adapt to ongoing developments."
Robin Schaap, chairman of Warmtecoöperatie Polanen, said: "After eight years of preparation, we are proud to deliver the first sustainable heat to growers in the Polanen area. This is an important milestone, not only for our cooperative but for the region as a whole. It is the result of collaboration between many parties, where vision, commitment and decisiveness have been essential."
© Koppert Cress
Koppert Cress
Koppert Cress is one of the 23 participating companies receiving geothermal heat through Aardwarmte Polanen. Bart Kouwenhoven, energy and climate specialist at the company, commented: "This is something we have been working towards for a long time. Our greenhouses now rely structurally less on natural gas. It demonstrates how cooperation and innovation reinforce each other in the energy transition."
For more information:
Koppert Cress
De Poel 1
2681 MB Monster
Tel: +31(0)174242819
[email protected]
www.koppertcress.com
Warmte Netwerk Westland
[email protected]
www.warmtenetwerkwestland.nl
