Production figures for geothermal energy in the Netherlands for 2024 show a slight growth, but more needs to be done if the country is to meet its forward targets.
That is according to Hans Bolscher, chairman of Geothermal Energy Netherlands, who recognises increased support for the industry as part of the country’s energy transition. “We see growing support for geothermal energy,” he said. “This is partly driven by the ever-increasing need for affordable sustainable collective heat, the desire to reduce dependence on foreign countries and the need to combat grid congestion."
But this large base of support does not yet translate sufficiently into rapid growth. In 2024, a total of 7.9 PJ (petajoule) of geothermal energy was produced in the Netherlands, which is estimated to save more than 225 million cubic metres of natural gas per year — roughly the amount consumed by households in a city like The Hague annually. The production figure for 2024 shows an increase of more than 16% compared to previous years. After years of stable production, this marks a slight growth, which hopefully forms the starting point for acceleration, though according to Bolscher, a huge catch-up is still needed to reach the more ambitious goal of 40-50 PJ in 2035.
“More new geothermal heat production plants must be added quickly to harness the potential for affordable, sustainable heat from home soil,” he said. “As a sector, we are holding on to the ambition of 40-50 PJ as a crucial focus for 2035. In the future, about 25% of the entire Dutch heat demand can be sustainably filled by geothermal energy — in greenhouse horticulture this is nearer 50%.”
Geothermal energy is particularly suitable when heat can be supplied to large greenhouse complexes, companies or thousands of homes. Likewise, there are neighbourhoods where the choice of a geothermal-based heating network is the logical alternative to natural gas, in terms of affordability, space use and relief on the electricity grid. Yet the production of geothermal energy is currently benefiting greenhouse horticulture almost exclusively, according to Geothermal Energy Netherlands. Projects in the built environment are harder to achieve, it notes, while uncertainties surrounding heating networks are currently slowing down geothermal investments. The finance to get a connection to the national grid also leads to delays for new projects.
In the Netherlands there are 28 geothermal sites in total with a total of 42 production wells, though not all were producing last year. According to Geothermal Energy Netherlands, 28 production wells produced geothermal energy in 2024, while there were eight new doublets that do not yet produce and six doublets that are not active at present. The share of geothermal heat in the Netherlands produced the equivalent of 426,000 tons less CO2 emissions, it added. Overall, geothermal production in 2024 increased by more than 16% compared to 2023 and 2022, from 6.8 to 7.9 PJ per year. Bolscher called for more definitive action to accelerate production further. “The breakthrough measures that we have proposed as a sector have not yet arrived.,” he said. “A shorter and predictable licensing process is crucial. We are also calling for a review of the subsidy system. A better-suited financial instrument will lead to faster realisation of projects.”