Netherlands: Dutch Bank Backs Use of Geothermal Energy in Dutch Greenhouse Horticulture

Rabobank: Growing interest in geothermal energy (FreshPlaza)

Rabobank, a Dutch multinational banking and financial services company, gives top priority to sustainable companies with transparent, future-proof business models. As far as Rabobank is concerned, this includes geothermal energy. The 2015 natural gas saving, thanks to the use of geothermal sources (Doublets) amounted to about 77 million m3 of natural gas. The dependency of (greenhouse) horticulture on fossil fuels can, so, be reduced. This is even more important when taken in the context of recent discussions about reducing the use of Groningen's natural gas.

This is why Rabobank is involved, as a financer or source of knowledge, in almost every project pertaining to the use of geothermal energy in Dutch greenhouse horticulture. Besides the 14 doublets that are already operational, there are eight more in the preparation phase. Recently, Rabobank decided to make EUR20 million of risk capital, in the form of subordinated loans, available for projects aimed at reducing CO2 emissions and the dependence on fossil fuels. This was needed because although the government supports these goals, it is their increased regulations that are causing delays in various geothermal projects.

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