The municipality of Hoeksche Waard has begun developing a policy framework for generating wind energy for use at agricultural industries. It could be ready by the end of the year.
Currently, the municipality of Hoeksche Waard in the province of South Holland does not have a policy in place for locating a small to medium-sized windmill or another form of small-scale wind energy generating at an agricultural firm. According to the municipality, this is necessary.
Your own windmill or other form of small-scale wind energy generation can assist an agricultural entrepreneur in generating the sustainable energy required within the organization. Simultaneously, it adds to the municipality’s goal of producing all energy utilized in the Hoeksche Waard responsibly and locally by 2040. Developing a policy framework for ‘Wind energy for agricultural companies’ is thus one of the actions in the implementation program ‘Hoeksche Waard towards energy neutrality’.
Explicit placement requirements
The policy framework specifies the prerequisites for the building of a wind turbine/energy generator on the farm. This includes, among other things, legislation and regulations, technology, as well as spatial and landscape suitability. Also known are the following starting points: The policy framework focuses on the installation of one wind turbine with an axis height of no more than 35 meters or less within an agricultural company’s agricultural building area, with the energy generated used for the company’s own needs. Another requirement is that the farm include solar panels. It is also being investigated whether prerequisites for accompanying infrastructure such as energy storage in batteries are required.
Collaboration with all parties involved
The policy framework is created by spatial exploration, study of hard and soft impediments, possibilities, and basic landscape principles. There is an initial period of reflection with those immediately concerned in order to exchange and collect knowledge, interests, and requirements. Then there comes a time when a larger group of stakeholders can offer ideas to the initial lines of a policy framework. For the next six weeks, the draft policy framework titled “Wind energy for agricultural firms” will be available for review. Views can then be expressed. There is an information phase at the start of this time for all parties engaged.
Assuming the policy framework development process goes as planned, the policy framework will be available by the end of 2023. Permit applications for the installation of a wind turbine on agricultural firms’ property can now be evaluated.
Image source: Hoeksche Waard
