ENERGY GENERATION FROM GEOTHERMAL SOURCES GAINING MOMENTUM
Geothermal energy is increasingly in the spotlight as a possible sustainable alternative to energy from fossil fuels. Moreover, according to recent VITO research, geothermal energy is also technologically feasible in Flanders. In the meantime, there are concrete plans to construct Flanders' first geothermal power plant at the new VITO site in Mol.
In recent years, VITO has been exploring the technological possibilities and feasibility of geothermal energy in a series of research projects. The most talked about was VITO’s contribution to the commercial mine water regeneration installation in Heerlen, the Netherlands. VITO also assessed the potential of geothermal energy for the horticultural sector in the Netherlands and Flanders. This research recently resulted in a pilot project at the former Balmatt Site in Mol, where VITO will construct a new facility. A large-scale seismic campaign must demonstrate that energy generation from geothermal energy is a viable proposition. The intent is to pump hot water from a depth of 2 500 to 3 500 metres and use it to heat buildings and generate green electricity...
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