Minewater Heerlen

The joint regions of North and Central Limburg and Limburg-South are hosting a Microsoft Teams Webinar on the topic of Geothermal/Minewater Energy.

In the former mining galleries under Heerlen lies the basis of what is now an innovative circular energy network, namely hot water. This low-temperature source, which provides heat but now also coolness to homes, offices, shops and industrial companies, has been developed in such a way that it also utilises residual heat from the surrounding area and, in case of lower demand, ensures that the residual energy is stored in existing, underground corridors or power plants with buffer vessels for that purpose. It once started with a project by the municipality of Heerlen in 2005, when the water in the mine galleries was drilled at various depths for the hot wells to a depth of up to 700 metres.

The Heerlen Minewater project therefore differs from other geothermal projects in the Netherlands. It was the first deep drilling (> 500 metres) for extracting geothermal energy. For this reason, a geothermal exploration licence was also granted for the first time under the new Mining Act.

The project became a business in 2013 and evolved rapidly. For instance, not only does it bring energy from the mine tunnels through underground pipes to customers, it also exchanges energy through underground exchange stations, between buildings and the mine tunnels. The mine galleries are now only used as storage (buffer tank). The very low-temperature system for heating (28°C) and cooling (16°C) is not limited to one building, but supplies a complete restructuring area with various functions (living, working, shopping, care) with sustainable energy. Limburg Energy Fund of the Province of Limburg ensures that Mijnwater B.V. can expand its network to provide even more homes, offices, supermarkets and care centres with cosy warmth in winter and pleasant coolness in summer.



Programme:

Mr Ed Smulders (Technical Manager at Mijnwater B.V.) will take us through the development of the Mijnwater system and the transition to a5th generation heating and cooling system. Mijnwater's corporate corporate film (Dutch spoken, English subtitled) tells the story of this innovative energy company in Heerlen.

Ed Smulders discusses the following sections:

  • Operating principle and objectives
  • Current status and results achieved
  • Future activities

Questions can be asked both in advance when registering and via chat during the lecture.

We start at 16.00. Our advice is to log in online around 15:45 (according to instructions we will send you after your registration). Intended end (depending on questions) at 17.30.

Details and registration

  • Due to the corona virus, we have chosen to offer the lecture in this format. You will participate via "Microsoft Teams".
  • The working language is English due to the participation of German colleagues from the VDI Germany, Niederrheinischer Bezirksverein.
  • A maximum of 200 KIVI participants can participate.
  • No fee will be payable.
  • Registration is possible until Monday 2 November 2020 at the latest. You will then be sent an instruction and a link to access the Teams Webinar Geothermal/Mine Water Energy.

Retrospective webinar.

Mr Ed Smulders provided the following links for a review of the webinar: