Alewijnse and VB Geo Projects sign sixth automation contract in geothermal energy

System integrator Alewijnse and VB Geo Projects have signed a contract for the automation and electrical installation of the expansion of a heat transfer installation for Trias Westland. It is the sixth successful geothermal project by Alewijnse and VB Geo Projects in five years.

The expansion of the above-ground geothermal installation with heat distribution network supplies geothermal heat to another thirty greenhouse horticulture entrepreneurs in Westland, increasing the total number of participants to fifty in the long term. Alewijnse supplies the automation and electrical installation of all control systems. From the extraction of geothermal heat from the 2,300 meter deep production well, the control of the heat exchangers, degassing installation, production and injection filters, transport and injection pumps, energy distribution to end users to the return transport of the water to the injection well.

Flexible and user-friendly system

Alewijnse lead engineer Arjan Broeken about the technology behind the Alewijnse installation: “The control system is based on an advanced PLC/SCADA solution with components from the Siemens 1500 series. The installation is flexible and user-friendly and provides extensive data on temperatures, pressures, levels and flow rates, for example. Real-time information and status of the installation can be easily viewed via clear dashboards for all users, such as management, operators and end customers.”

“All important information is continuously stored and this allows us to automatically generate any desired report. This information is available both at the geothermal source and via mobile devices such as tablets and smart phones,” Arjan Broeken further explains. “We immediately report any malfunctions to the breakdown service, so that the Trias Westland operating team can intervene quickly to ensure the progress of the process. We also apply this service to our previous geothermal projects and it is of great importance for the stability of the energy supply to companies in greenhouse horticulture.”

Specialist in geothermal automation

Alewijnse and VB Geo Projects have been working successfully together on geothermal projects for five years. The companies are also joining forces for the latest contract for Trias Westland. Arjan Broeken about the unique collaboration: “VB Projects is responsible for the construction of the above-ground installation. Alewijnse provides the best expertise in the field of automation, hardware engineering, assembly and electrical installation.”

Edwin Akkerman, work planner at VB Geo Projects, about the choice for Alewijnse: “Due to Alewijnse's extensive expertise and years of experience in the industrial and maritime sector, they are at home in all types of automation solutions and electrical installations and they have good contacts with the right suppliers. . This allows them to handle the entire project as a partner and deliver a total package in the field of data processing, automation, process controls, hardware, electrical installation and commissioning with maximum added value for our partners and end users.”

Unique project in Westland

The heat transfer installation for Trias supplies geothermal heat to more than 50 greenhouse horticulture entrepreneurs in Westland. What is unique is that 345 homes in Naaldwijk are also included in the project. The savings on CO2 emissions with this sustainable installation are significant. The gas extracted from the warm earth water is converted into electricity, ensuring maximum use of all extracted raw materials.

Geothermal

Geothermal energy is a sustainable source of energy that is generated from geothermal heat. The earth's surface contains natural aquifers; the deeper, the warmer the water in the earth is. The hot water is pumped up and transferred to the heating network via a heat exchanger. From here the water can be distributed to the greenhouse horticulture companies. After use, the cooled water goes back into the earth.

Partners

Trias Westland is a project by and for greenhouse horticulture entrepreneurs. Through our own cooperative

they work together with each other and with large regional parties to switch to a sustainable energy supply. The realization of residual heat and geothermal energy meets the government's wishes to make the Netherlands even more sustainable.