In the Netherlands, in Leeuwarde, a large-scale geothermal energy heating project, led by a local construction and heating company, EBN (Energie Beheer Netherlands) and Shell, has been given the green light. Work on this geothermal energy project is set to begin this month on the outskirts of Leeuwarden. The Warmte van Leeuwarden project consortium plans to provide buildings and homes with sustainable heating from geothermal energy which will then be connected to create a new district heating system.

Site preparation work for construction purposes is taking place this month, with drilling due to start in July and August 2021. Drilling of a second well is scheduled tobtake place in the third quarter of 2022, if the construction work continues to run as smoothly as expected. The first borehole should enble the Warmte van Leeuwarden project to determine whether the heat source is usable and suitable. If so, the construction of a district heating network can then start. The heat that will be supplied by the project will meet the heating demands of around 6,000 to 8,000 homes.