Windpark Zeewolde (WPZ) will build its own connection to the high-voltage network. It has signed a contract with ABB for this purpose. The construction activities for the transformer substation will start this autumn. The wind farm is expected to start producing electricity in autumn 2020.
The construction of the transformer substation station will start before financial close. “This is rather unique”, says WPZ’s general director Sjoerd Sieburgh Sjoerdsma. “It shows the courage of the farming community that has initiated the project and their faith in the realisation of the wind farm.”
The transformer substation connects the future wind turbines to TenneT’s high-voltage grid. The construction of the transformer substation, representing an investment of some dozens of millions euros, will be financed by the farming community. The substation could possibly also connect other wind farms or solar farms in the future.
Largest farmer/citizen participation initiative
With 320 MW, Windpark Zeewolde will be one of the largest onshore wind farms in the Netherlands. The wind farm site, covering around 300 km2, is located in the outlying area of the municipality of Zeewolde, east of Almere. 90% of the residing farmers, entrepreneurs and citizens are shareholders. Together they form the largest citizen/farmers participation initiative in Europe.
The current 220 solitary turbines will be replaced by 91 modern, larger ones, in a single-line layout. In December of last year, the wind farm received the definitive go. The new turbines will generate almost three times more electricity than the current turbines. The wind farm is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2021, producing enough green electricity to power around 280,000 households annually. Source: Windpark Zeewolde
