Wind Power News: Netherlands
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They are the products of the organizations or individuals noted and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch.
Offshore wind: for the birds?
A recently published study on the ecological impact of a Dutch offshore windfarm found it was positively beneficial, but even its authors concede that much more research is needed to confirm its findings. Siân Crampsie reports A recent study by Dutch scientists into the impact on the local ecology of an offshore windfarm has found that it was positively beneficial to the marine environment. However, the report’s authors conceded that one swallow does not make a spring, and that the . . .
Wind energy not yet profitable
The government has invested a total €3bn on developing wind technology and compensating for the losses over the past 20 years, according to a new report by the national statistics office CBS. The CBS figures show last year, the wind energy sector made a loss of €150m but received €360m in government support. The loss is largely due to low electricity prices and the shortage of wind, the CBS said. The figures are contained in the CBS’s 2010 (English language) . . .
Dutch fall out of love with windmills
When the Netherlands built its first sea-based wind turbines in 2006, they were seen as symbols of a greener future. Towering over the waves of the North Sea like an army of giants, blades whipping through the wind, the turbines were the country’s best hope to curb carbon emissions and meet growing demand for electricity. The 36 turbines — each one the height of a 30-storey building — produce enough electricity to meet the needs of more than 100,000 households . . .
Duitse molen nekt ontsnapte Artis-pelikaan
[The young pelican who escaped from the Artis zoo in August is dead. He flew into a wind turbine in Germany. ... Since his escape the pelican was closely monitored. Until recently, he was at the Kagerplassen in Sassenheim (see video, below). He had been surviving well, and so was difficult to catch.] De jonge pelikaan die in augustus uit Artis ontsnapte is dood. Hij is in Duitsland tegen een windmolen gevlogen. Nadat de pelikaan was gevonden, is hij voor . . .
Councils campaign against offshore wind farm
The seaside resorts of Zandvoort and Noordwijk are working together to campaign against plans to build a massive wind farm 23 km out to sea. They argue the wind farm, to be built by energy group Eneco, is too close to the shore. Holidaymakers should be able to watch the sun go down without the view being spoiled by turbines, Zandvoort council official Andor Sandbergen is quoted as saying by the Telegraaf.
Dutch govt green deal excludes wind and solar
The Dutch government promised to cut red tape for biogas production, waste management and other renewable energy projects with the exception of costly wind and solar power, so that it can meet targets set by the European Union. The so-called “green deal” involves 59 public and private sector projects with an emphasis on sustainable use of raw materials, water, land, food and energy. “The government should not impose sustainability by introducing bans,” said Maxime Verhagen, minister for economic affairs, agriculture . . .
Flevoland gets 36 wind turbines
Energy company Nuon is to build 36 wind turbines west of Zeewolde in Flevoland on land owned by 63 farmers, Nuon owner Vattenfall announced on Monday. Vattenfall is investing €150m in the turbines which will deliver 122 megawatt of power, making it the largest land-based wind park in the country with one owner. The energy created will serve 88,000 households, Vattenfall says in a statement.
German wind turbine maker pulls out of offshore wind park
Controversial German wind turbine maker Bard has pulled out of a project to build the Netherlands’ biggest offshore wind park, the Financieele Dagblad reports on Wednesday. Bard beat Dutch energy firms Nuon and Eneco to the contract to build the wind park off the coast of the Wadden Sea island of Schiermonnikoog last year. The project has been allocated up to €4.4bn in government subsidies. Amsterdam investment company Typhoon, which is arranging the project’s financing, hopes the withdrawal of Bard . . .
Not in my backyard
In the northeastern province of Drenthe, there’s growing opposition to plans to construct a mega wind park. The park will consist of over 100 windmills, each one over 200 metres high. Local residents fear that the windmills will be an eye sore and disturb the peace and quiet of the province. But farmers who will rent their land to place the windmills say the wind park could be a boon for the local economy. They also stand to earn tens . . .
Germany and the Netherlands bicker over wind turbines
The Netherlands and Germany are embroiled in a dispute over the placing of wind turbines at sea off the coast of the Dutch island of Schiermonnikoog, the Telegraaf reports on Thursday. The paper says German energy firm EWE wants to place the turbines in a part of the North Sea which the Netherlands considers its territory. The plan involves erecting 30 turbines north of Schiermonnikoog – the last of the Dutch Wadden Sea islands – and the German island of . . .
