Geothermal energy is officially heating greenhouses in one of Europe’s most important horticulture hubs.

Aardwarmte Polanen has begun full commercial heat supply to growers in the Westland region of the Netherlands, following a successful trial period. The system draws hot water from a geothermal doublet drilled near the town of Monster, delivering renewable heat directly to tomato producers, flower growers, and other greenhouse operations.

Drilling for the two geothermal wells was completed in mid-2023, with testing confirming strong performance by the end of 2024. Construction of surface heating facilities followed through 2025, setting the stage for full operation this year.

The geothermal system is capable of delivering about 22.5 megawatts of thermal energy — roughly enough heat for the equivalent of 24,000 homes. So far, contracts already cover most of that capacity, supplying a broad mix of horticulture businesses that depend on steady, affordable heat to operate year-round.

Instead of each greenhouse relying on individual gas boilers, the heat is distributed through a regional heating network. That network is also tied into a growing web of geothermal projects across Westland, which is expected to reach around 500 megawatts of heating capacity by 2030 — turning the region into one of Europe’s largest geothermal heat clusters.

Aardwarmte Polanen is a partnership between HVC, Warmte Netwerk Westland, and Warmtecoöperatie Polanen. The project marks HVC’s third geothermal development in the area, following earlier systems at Trias Westland and Maasdijk.

For Westland’s massive greenhouse sector — one of the most energy-intensive forms of agriculture in Europe — geothermal offers a stable, low-carbon alternative to natural gas. And unlike solar or wind, the heat flows 24/7, making it a natural fit for controlled growing environments.

As more geothermal doublets come online and connect into shared networks, the Dutch model is showing how underground heat can quietly replace fossil fuels at scale — one greenhouse block at a time.