GGN’s founder and his partners have global knowledge of the energy industry. They also have a lot of knowledge about the Netherlands and the subsurface, based, among other things, on much study of geology. GGN has also published internationally on this subject in the past. In addition, GGN knows a lot about the costs of a geothermal installation. GGN has a good understanding of existing geothermal applications. However, GGN has designed an alternative, simple geothermal solution. This solution makes geothermal heat readily available to residential consumers. Characteristic of this GGN solution is its affordable and sustainable nature. Fortunately, this geothermal application fits very well into our Ministry’s Geothermal Master Plan. An accelerated implementation would be very welcome for Dutch households who are increasingly struggling with their high energy bills. Currently, geothermal energy is constantly in the news, but solutions are still limited. GGN offers a consumer-oriented alternative. GGN considers itself a reliable knowledge partner in the heat transition and would like to contribute to its implementation.
GGN wants to supply existing buildings (homes, residential areas, shopping centers, healthcare facilities) with low-cost, emission-free heat as soon as possible. In late 2018, GGN was founded with the ambition to implement geothermal heat on a large scale. Making affordable and sustainable energy available to consumers is paramount. The heat source must coincide with the location or residence of the buyer or consumer. Heat can be supplied at cost if the heat is used locally. For example, there are then no transport costs. In this way, consumers themselves also become more involved in their heat supply. They pay a low price for the heat and know that it is a sustainable solution. GGN calls this heat at low cost LUC-Geothermal.
LUC Geothermal is better than the “traditional” solution used elsewhere in the Netherlands, also has higher quality requirements and optimal thermal capacity. Simply put, the unique LUC solution delivers exactly the amount of heat needed by the consumer. Optimal use is then made of the available heat in that local underground.
GGN uses doublets: two boreholes, where hot water is pumped and the cooled water is returned to the same aquifer. LUC doublets are smaller than the usual ones, make less noise, operate at very low pressure and harvest the optimal amount of heat and takes into account the varying heat demand between winter and summer seasons. LUC doublets are switchable which means that the final distribution of heat through switched heat networks has a very high security of supply. Working with this unique GGN solution provides huge benefits for consumers.
André Mol is director of GGN, he is highly experienced in the energy industry with international experience in both conventional energy and oil and gas but also geothermal, storage ofCO2 in underground salt water andCO2 mineralization in Basalt, Granite and Peridotite rocks.
GGN works together with well-known suppliers and specialists from André’s (international) network. As a result, we have obtained a geothermal solution that can be applied in Dutch soil. It goes without saying that GGN explicitly takes into account concerns of residents, such as those raised in Groningen by the earthquakes. Of course, GGN also takes into account laws and regulations such as the Mining Act (regulations and decree), the Energy Act 2025 and the future Collective Heat Act (WCW).
Shareholders
GGN is 90% owned by Stichting Geothermie Groep Nederland, a not-for-profit organization that worked with suppliers and experts to calculate the technical design of LUC-Geothermie and prepare the business case.
GGN puts itself at the service of potential heat customers. As soon as these express an interest (e.g. a residential area, municipality, healthcare institution, housing corporation, shopping mall) we discuss the heat demand and local possibilities. That soil survey will quickly show whether a location has potential for a geothermal application as proposed by GGN. GGN also calculates a possible business case.
If the potential geothermal project becomes more serious, we will create a plan with more details that includes the future cost to the consumer (buyer). GGN likes to offer its expertise on a low-threshold basis. If the interest eventually becomes a collaboration in an implementation project, GGN co-invests 10% and assumes the role of ‘operator’, this is required under mining legislation.
What this means for consumers is that GGN has the same interests from the beginning. After all, the lower the cost price of geothermal heat, the higher the collective savings compared to the current heat price based on burning natural gas. The better the quality of the subsurface doublets the lower the risk of liabilities.
GGN is licensed and competent to drill underground for heat. GGN also has the necessary certification to design and construct heat doublets. These are the so-called IWCF certificates (level 4 and level 5), which are also recognized by State Supervision.
In March 2023, GGN BV received permission from the Ministry of Economic Affairs to take over a geothermal exploration license from the Province of Drenthe and Municipality of Emmen. With the introduction of the new Mining Act, this was later converted into a permit ‘search area’. That permit was published in the Government Gazette on March 24, 2023.
With our practical LUC solution, we want to make geothermal heat available to all citizens in the Netherlands. This gives a drastic reduction in costs, noCO2 emissions and with the involvement of district residents, preferably in their property. GGN does not sell heat. GGN is not after maximum profit for shareholders. GGN works for and with buyers of geothermal heat.
