Wilms Geothermal Power Plant
For the new production facility of sun protection specialist Wilms, we implemented a geothermal system from design through to completion. We combined our expertise with opportunities for dialogue and collaborative optimizations throughout the entire process.
- Client: Wilms
- Period: 2022–2025
- Location: Meerhout, Belgium
- Solution: Geothermal Energy
- Engineering: Feasibility Study – Permit Application Support – Design – Ground Source Heat Storage (GSH) – Open Geothermal Energy – Power Plant – District Heating Network
Behind the Scenes
Wilms wasn’t just looking for a contractor, but for a partner with a vision who could translate their sustainability goals into an innovative energy solution. In Smet Group, they found a sounding board for an integrated concept: combining a healthy indoor climate with minimal CO₂ emissions, energy efficiency, and renewability.
Together, we developed a geothermal concept tailored to their production site, designed to meet both current and future needs. The result: a circular system that not only provides heating and cooling, but also recovers and reuses waste energy from the production process.
A Sustainable Approach to the Project
The geothermal system at Wilms recovers heat from production and building cooling and stores it in the ground for later use. This results in a reusable energy system that closes the loop and significantly reduces CO₂ emissions from the production process. This creates a responsible, circular, and energy-efficient production environment that aligns with tomorrow’s sustainability goals.
- SDG 7 – Sustainable energy through the use of renewable geothermal energy.
- SDG 12 – Responsible production through the reuse of waste heat.
Innovation
The geothermal system is a smart energy hub that grows along with Wilms. Our Electromechanical Engineering team developed a system that is designed for future expansion. This will allow additional production capacity to be seamlessly integrated in the future. Furthermore, we took on the challenge of actively recovering residual heat from the production process and storing it underground. This is a project that not only delivers results today but also grows alongside the energy needs of the future.