Energy is often the critical factor in growing young vegetable, ornamental, and chrysanthemum plants. Beekenkamp Group is taking the first step toward comprehensive sustainability in the energy supply for greenhouse horticulture. We want to limit the effects of climate change as much as possible (emit less CO2) and generate as much energy locally as we can. We are “getting rid of gas” and switching to local, sustainable energy sources to the greatest extent possible.
One such step we are taking is by participating in Aardwarmtecluster Maasdijk, a geothermal heat project. Geothermal energy is the technology that uses the earth’s heat. The soil contains natural aquifers. The deeper they are, the warmer the water in the earth is. Temperatures increase 30 to 35°C per kilometre of depth. In order to make use of this heat, two boreholes will be drilled. One for a pipe to bring water up to the surface and a second pipe to pump cooled water back into the deep layer. Once on the surface, the hot water is transferred via a heat exchanger to a distribution network that transports the water to users.
Our various locations in Maasdijk are already connected as much as possible so that they can exchange heat efficiently. The first heat was received from the geothermal wells in 2024.
In addition to ensuring that we can distribute our heat better to the various locations, this connection also saves us the use of large amounts of natural gas. All locations in Maasdijk combined will save almost 1.8 million cubic metres of natural gas due to the contracted capacity, resulting in a reduction of 56 tons of CO2 emissions.
In this way, Beekenkamp is doing its part to build a heat infrastructure within the Westland. In the long term, this will make it easier for all greenhouse horticulture businesses in this region to make the switch from fossil fuels to sustainable fuels.
