Advisory Group for Economic Affairs

The advice from TNO-AGE is supported by our own analyses. Based on these, it is assessed whether the geological data and planned execution, as submitted by the operator, give rise to grounds for refusal in accordance with the provisions of the Mining Act and current policy.

The evaluations focus on, among other things:

• the location and nature of the occurrence;
• the amount of recoverable mineral or geothermal energy;
• the usable storage volume;
• the technical feasibility;
• the efficiency of the planned extraction or storage;
• interferences with other activities in the subsurface;
• the likelihood and extent of expected subsidence and seismic activity and their effects on people and the environment.

The Dutch subsurface contains approximately 500 gas fields, around 210 of which are in production. We make annual forecasts for Dutch gas production, including the ‘exploration potential’, and we update the national gas reserve.

For this purpose, we collect and publish the forecasts of the oil and gas reserves of all the operators that are active in the Netherlands in existing fields. We make forecasts for the fields that have not yet been discovered, based on the data on expected volumes provided by operators. Read more about oil and gas extraction on the NLOG website.

The deep subsurface will play a major role if the Netherlands wants to use sustainable energy on a large scale. By storing wind and solar energy in energy carriers such as hydrogen and compressed air, we can ensure there is enough energy available even on cloudy, calm days.

The subsurface offers space in empty gas fields, salt caverns, and aquifers (porous, water-bearing rock in the subsurface) to store energy carriers in large quantities, such as renewable fuel and heat, in sufficiently large amounts. We already store large amounts of gas for heating during the winter. Read more about underground energy storage on the NLOG website.

A large number of empty offshore gas fields are technically suitable for carbon storage. This will enable us to make a significant contribution to achieving the climate goals.

In addition to portfolio studies on the suitability of these fields for CO2 storage, we advise KGG on complex permit applications and assist in the evaluation of SDE++ applications.

Read more about carbon storage on the NLOG website.

Strata situated between 1.5 and 4 kilometres below the earth’s surface contain water at temperatures of between 45 and 120 degrees Celsius. This warm water can serve as an energy source that is not dependent on seasons or the weather. We already use geothermal energy to heat glasshouses and homes, but over time it could also be used for industrial processes and to generate electricity.

With our detailed knowledge of the deep subsurface, we provide insight into the local potential for geothermal energy. In this context, we also look at locations outside the area of gas exploration and extraction. We participate in programmes to boost knowledge about the potential for new geothermal locations.

In an increasing number of municipalities in the Netherlands, parties are working on launching geothermal energy projects: approximately one-third of the more than 350 municipalities have dealt with permit applications under the Mining Act. We advise local and regional authorities as well as the Ministry of KGG on the issuance of these mining permits.

TNO AGE advises on and conducts research into geothermal energy, where heat is extracted from the ground at a depth of approximately 3 km.

Read more about geothermal energy on the NLOG website.

For the Ministry of KGG, we model the impact above ground of a potential earthquake resulting from gas extraction. The Ministry of KGG uses these data and other information to make decisions on granting permits. We also contribute to the development of knowledge and protocols to make the seismic risk (the likelihood of an earthquake) due to geothermal energy comprehensible and manageable.

Although gas production from the Groningen gas field has stopped, we conduct an annual Seismic Hazard and Risk Analysis (SHRA). This analysis determines, among other things, whether the expected number of earthquakes corresponds to the number of observed earthquakes.

Read more about induced seismicity (earthquakes caused by human activities in the subsurface) on the NLOG website.

Natural gas extraction and other subsurface extractions cause some subsidence. This is because deep rock strata slowly settle by up to several tens of centimetres over a large area. According to our calculations, soil subsidence resulting from mining activities in the deep subsurface does not cause any damage above ground. Read more about subsidence due to mining activities on the NLOG website.

In the Netherlands, salt is mainly extracted at depths of between 350 and 500 metres. This carries does not cause direct risks of subsidence. We closely monitor salt extraction and advise the Ministry of KGG on issuing permits for the exploration and extraction of salt and the safe closure of caverns.

Read more about salt extraction on the NLOG website.

In addition to TNO-AGE, the expertise groups Geomodelling and Applied Geosciences at TNO Geological Service Netherlands are also researching the causes of soil subsidence.