TNO presents new edition of 'Geology of the Netherlands'

Standard work for Dutch geology

The second edition of 'Geology of the Netherlands' is edited by Johan ten Veen and Geert-Jan Vis, staff members of the Geological Survey of the Netherlands (part of TNO), and Jan de Jager and the late Theo Wong. The latter two were also involved in the first edition.

Nearly half of the authors work at the Geological Survey of the Netherlands. Additionally, authors from other research institutions, universities, and various (energy) companies have contributed their expertise.

TNO decided to publish the new edition following the significantly increased knowledge of the subsurface geology and the shift in societal perspective towards renewable resources and energy sources.

Book describes various levels

The book describes the geological layers, their formation, and the resources they hold. It also discusses the political framework, regulations, and new applications such as geothermal energy extraction and CO2 storage. Risks such as seismicity and subsidence are also addressed. Finally, it outlines how the knowledge of the Dutch subsurface is disseminated by the Geological Survey of the Netherlands.

New insights

New data, technological developments, and legislation have contributed to a more complete picture of Dutch geology. The result is a book that has grown from 350 pages (first edition) to 900 pages, with important new chapters such as underground CO2 storage. The book thus offers new insights.

Ten Veen: "We have geological knowledge of roughly the upper 10 kilometres of rock, but especially the deepest part has received much more attention in recent years. This new knowledge is important for geothermal energy extraction and the potential deep storage of radioactive waste.

Another current example is the possible presence of minerals, for instance for phones and computers. Recently, the Netherlands Materials Observatory was opened because Europe aims to become less dependent on other parts of the world when it comes to critical resources. Our book helps with this. It provides the most up-to-date knowledge and indicates where more research is needed."

Increasing importance of earth sciences

The vast amount of knowledge contained in the book implicitly demonstrates that earth sciences are crucial for addressing challenges such as the energy transition and climate change.

Vis: "The societal perspective is shifting from oil and gas to renewable resources and energy sources. The role of earth scientists is set to expand significantly, with an increasing focus on sustainability, the management of critical resources, geological storage solutions, and harnessing energy from geothermal sources.”