Island of Vlieland
The Harbour of Vlieland is pioneering the extraction of heat from saltwater, installing an aquathermal system that provides warm showers for visitors in summer, while heating the Harbour facilities and a neighbouring residence in winter. It is a highly optimised system, powered by onsite solar panels, producing local and fully clean energy. This setup helps reduce carbon emissions and strengthens the island's energy independence, which matters even more at a time of geopolitical instability and volatile energy prices. The Dutch AquaCOM project is led by the Harbour of Vlieland with the participation of the Province of Friesland and the technical partner EXTRAQT.
Using closed-loop heat exchangers installed directly in the water, the system extracts low-temperature heat from saltwater - something rarely done, and which required significant innovation in finding seawater-resistant materials. This heat is then upgraded via heat pumps powered by the solar panels on the Harbour's roof, resulting in a 100% clean heating system that serves as a model for similar projects in the Wadden Sea area and beyond.
The Harbour of Vlieland has developed its own energy management software in-house to optimise the use of locally generated renewable energy. The system draws on a wide range of data - including weather forecasts, solar production, electricity consumption, and harbour reservations - to forecast daily shower demand and energy needs. In line with its open and replicable approach, it is built on open-source software.