Insights, Inspiration, and Critical Questions
On Tuesday, November 27, TU Delft and the Province of Fryslân hosted an engaging seminar on aquathermal energy. With a diverse audience – ranging from municipalities and water boards to citizen initiatives and cooperatives – the event focused on sharing knowledge about the potential and challenges of aquathermal energy.
The afternoon featured contributions from six speakers:
➡️ Kimberley Tjon-Ka-Jie (Ministry of Climate and Green Growth) explained the latest developments in the National Sources Strategy and addressed questions about selecting specific sources or source mixes.
➡️ Paul Robbrecht (POM Antwerp) shared his experience as an Energy Broker and discussed the successes and challenges of installing a heat network in an industrial area in Antwerp, including unexpected hurdles like a shortage of welders.
➡️ Henk Looijen (Waterprof) delved into the history of aquathermy. Did you know that as early as 1936, a building in Switzerland was heated using energy from a lake?
➡️ Stijn de Jonge (Extraqt) explored the realizable potential of water bodies in East Flanders and Fryslân and what is needed to harness this potential.
➡️ During the closing panel discussion, Goffe Venema (Eigen Warmte Balk) and Ruben Vanneste (Buda Island, Kortrijk) shared their experiences in setting up local energy cooperatives.
Our host for the day, Treja Akkerman (formerly of the Aquathermy Network), ensured the smooth flow of the program.
The audience raised thought-provoking questions:
❓ Why doesn’t the government invest more in a sources mix?
❓ How can heat network operations become profitable, and what role should the government play?
❓ Are there opportunities to coordinate excavation work, such as for cables or sewers?
❓ What is the difference between geothermal and ground heat?
❓ What about the ecological impact of extracting heat from surface water?
The answer to many of these questions: research and collaboration! 🧪 Each situation is unique, and knowledge-sharing and support – both from the government and each other – are essential.
With fresh insights and inspiring discussions, we look back on a successful seminar. Together, we are taking steps toward a sustainable future.
