300 homes in The Hague are about to become the first in the Netherlands to be heated using renewable geothermal energy. This new energy system will cut CO2 emissions by these homes by 70 percent and will save vast amounts of natural gas.

Prince Willem Alexander will give the official starting signal for the "Aardwarmte Den Haag Live" ceremony on June 7, when the homes are officially hooked up to the region's new geothermal power station. The power station will provide the homes with geothermal heating, which replaces traditional heating.

Geothermal heating is a form of renewable energy. This heat comes from the earth's core, where the temperature exceeds 2.000 degrees Celsius, and flows upwards to the earth's surface where it can be converted to energy.

The 6 kilometers closest to the earth's surface contain energy equivalent to 50.000 times the energy contained in all of the world's oil and gas reserves.

This innovative energy system releases no CO2, and will reduce CO2 emissions by these homes by 70 percent; 5.000 metric tons less CO2 will be released per year, equivalent to the emissions from 2.300 cars. It will also save up to 7 million cubic meters of natural gas per year.

The homes are part of the "Aardwarmte Den Haag" project. By 2017 at least 4.000 new homes plus 20.000 square metres of commercial property in The Hague Zuidwest will be heated using hot water pumped up from the ground. The heat will be provided in the form of floor heating systems.