Aardwarmte Polanen starts geothermal heat supply to greenhouses in Westland, Netherlands
Geothermal drilling operations in Monster, Netherlands (source: Aardwarmte Polanen)
Carlo Cariaga
16 Feb 2026
Aardwarmte Polanen has started supplying geothermal heating to greenhouses in the Westland region in the Netherlands from its facility near Monster.
Following a trial period, Aardwarmte Polanen has announced the official start of geothermal heat supply to horticulture businesses in the Westland region of the Netherlands. Geothermal heat is supplied from the company’s geothermal doublet located on Madeweg near Monster.
Drilling of the doublet to supply geothermal heating for the project was completed in June 2023, and positive results based on well testing were validated by the end of 2024. By 2025, construction of the heating facility was in full swing.
Based on the well tests, the doublet of Aardwarmte Polanen can support a full capacity of 22.5 MWth, roughly equivalent o the heat demand of 24,000 households. The two wells were drilled to depths of around 2300 meters. The doublet capacity aligns well with the contracts that the company has already signed, equivalent to 18.2 MWth, with a wide range of customers that include facilities that grow tomatoes, flowers, and other plants.
The heat is supplied to the customers through the regional heating network. This is also connected to the broader network of geothermal projects in the Westland region, which is expected to grow to a heating capacity of about 500 MWth by 2030.
Aardwarmte Polanen is a collaboration between HVC, Warmte Netwerk Westland (WNW), and Warmtecoöperatie Polanen. The project represents the third geothermal project of sustainability company HVC, following Trias Westland and Maasdijk.
“With the commissioning of geothermal energy in Polanen, we’re adding another geothermal source to the Westland heating system. This reduces businesses’ reliance on natural gas, accelerates the region’s sustainability efforts, and lowers CO2 emissions. Thanks to the collaboration with many partners, dozens of businesses can now switch to a reliable, local heat source—something we’re rightly proud of,” said Arjan ten Elshof, HVC’s heating director.
“I’m incredibly proud that after eight years of preparation, we can now supply the first sustainable heat to growers in the Polanen area. This is a significant milestone, not only for our cooperative, but for the region as a whole. It’s the result of collaboration between many parties, in which the vision, commitment, and courage of everyone involved have been essential,” added Robin Schaap, chairman of Warmtecoöperatie Polane.
Source: Aardwarmte Polanen
