The SCAN program has finished geothermal drilling at eight locations in the Netherlands.

After over two years, the SCAN program has finished drilling eight geothermal wells throughout the Netherlands. The research findings from these exploratory boreholes will be made publicly available on NLOG.nl, aiding the advancement of geothermal projects for heating homes, greenhouses, and commercial properties.

The SCAN program aimed to gather essential data to identify locations in the Netherlands suitable for geothermal energy extraction. The drilling campaign spanned approximately half of the country, gathering valuable insights about the subsurface.

The drilling campaign successfully obtained a total of 1347 meters in drill cores. Analysis of these cores is currently ongoing, along with the additional seismic data collected during the 3D seismic survey of the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area in late 2025.

The SCAN boreholes have identified three regions with potentially viable geothermal resources.

Two SCAN boreholes suggested potential opportunities for geothermal energy extraction in the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area, specifically within the Slochteren Formation, both to the north and south of the IJ. The Strandeiland Amsterdam borehole also indicated that the shallow Breda Formation is permeable, making it a candidate for high-temperature storage.

Three SCAN boreholes located in De Bilt, Ede, and Ouderkark aan de Amstel pointed to geothermal energy opportunities in the northeastern Utrecht and the neighboring Gelderland areas. All three boreholes encountered the Slochteren Formation, which exhibited good permeability.

Four SCAN boreholes drilled in North Brabant were strategically positioned to provide relevant data for parts of Limburg, South Holland, Gelderland, and Zeeland.

The borehole in Heijningen revealed that the Brussels Sand layer, found at depths of 500 to 1000 meters, has considerable permeability, making it an attractive target for shallow geothermal energy. The borehole in Stad van Gerwen again identified the highly permeable Breda Formation as another potential source for shallow geothermal energy.

Boreholes in Heesch and Milheeze demonstrated the possibility of extracting water from Triassic formations, with three geological layers identified as permeable.

Future studies are being initiated based on the knowledge acquired from the SCAN boreholes. Geological studies have been commissioned in various regions to interpret these results, allowing municipalities and potential project initiators to make more informed decisions about where geothermal energy could effectively replace natural gas.

The Brabant Implication Studies, commissioned by EBN with support from North Brabant provinces, anticipate delivering results in phases from early to late 2026.

PanTerra has been tasked by the provinces of Utrecht, Gelderland, and the FoodValley region to update geological studies. In the Amersfoort region, IF Technology is conducting a feasibility study on geothermal and high-temperature storage for local municipalities.

SCAN intends to undertake additional seismic research in northeastern Utrecht to better define the subsurface and assess geothermal heating opportunities. This is scheduled for late 2026 or early 2027.

Based on the borehole findings and seismic survey, the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area is now identifying sites suitable for geothermal heat production. Collaborating with Vattenfall and EBN, the area aims to initiate operations of its first geothermal source by 2031.