Soil suitability card closed systems Zeeland

The Soil suitability map for soil energy shows the technical suitability for soil energy systems for both open (cold/heat storage) and closed (bottom heat exchangers) systems. The suitability maps shall indicate for soil energy systems whether there are: (1) Soil technically sufficient “space” is present in the soil (2) whether this space is “accessible” to store and extract heat and cold. The “space” is determined by the thickness of the soil layers, while the “accessibility” of the soil is determined by the porosity of the soil layers (the “groans” the sand, the better the flow). In Zeeland there appears to be significant variation in the suitability of the soil layers: in Schouwen-Duiveland and Tholen the soil is suitable to a depth of approximately 220 m -NAP compared to a depth of (only) 30 m -NAP in Zeeuws Vlaanderen. In some areas in Zeeuws Vlaanderen, the suitable soil layers are even thinner. In addition, the more northern in Zeeland the rougher the soil layers are. Especially in the southern parts of Zeeland, groundwater quality (redox border and salinisation) is an important focus for open systems. The eligibility cards also incorporate the legal preconditions in Zeeland. These are four areas where the soil is reserved for drinking water extraction. In these areas it is forbidden to dig or drill in the soil — including for the benefit of soil energy systems. This map does not provide any information about the suitability of the subsurface in Zeeland for geothermal energy.