Utrecht, 28 March 2024 – Today, Windplan Groen is officially put into operation. It involves 11 wind farms with 86 wind turbines in Eastern Flevoland (the Netherlands). The installed capacity is 515 MW, annually providing approximately 1.8 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh). This is equivalent to the entire province of Flevoland’s yearly consumption. Therefore, Windplan Groen is the largest onshore wind farm in the Netherlands in terms of production and installed capacity. Bringing together and maintaining 400 owners and the initiators of 11 wind farms has been a remarkable feat.

Windkoepel Groen (WKG) is the initiator of Windplan Groen, one of the four designated wind energy areas in Flevoland. Over 80 percent of the residents in this area are owners of the plan (400 farmers and residents). Together with the authorities, they formed a single Windplan Groen around Dronten and Lelystad. Key players in the development process were project advisor Ventolines and independent advisor Pondera, which executed the entire Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process.

“The NWEA is particularly proud of the initiators, stakeholders, and involved authorities. Together, we are providing the Netherlands with clean, affordable, and geopolitically sensible energy.”

Jan Vos, Chairman NWEA

Attention to the environment
The project stands out for its attention to the environment. In addition to professional process communication with residents during the development, construction, and operation of the wind farms, substantial financial participation also takes place. Over €1.1 million flows annually to the area through a bond fund for residents and two local foundations: Stichting Windfondsen Dronten and Stichting Windplan Groen Fonds. The first foundation finances measures and projects that improve the living environment and contribute to achieving climate goals. The second foundation supports vulnerable individuals in the municipalities of Dronten and Lelystad who need a helping hand and for whom government regulations are not sufficient.

“Windplan Groen has an impact on the environment in Flevoland. Therefore, from the outset, we have been committed to connecting with the residents. We want to be good neighbors, even though we know that not everyone is pleased with our turbines. At the same time, together we can be proud of the large volume of sustainable electricity that we are putting into the electricity grid here in the polder.”

Wim Luijkx, Chairman Windkoepel Groen

Remarkable achievement
The success of Windkoepel Groen is based on bringing together and maintaining the initiators of the 11 wind farms. Advisor Ventolines played a crucial role by establishing a broad collaboration through a multitude of agreements. This was a remarkable achievement. Ventolines also developed a central ‘connection point’ on the high-voltage grid, the so-called Closed Distribution System Groen (GDG), for eight of the eleven wind farms. This GDG was officially put into operation on March 10, 2023.

“Our advantage is that we have experience in navigating large, complex projects and all the expertise needed to solve complicated issues, whether organizational, legal, or technical challenges. Only with an integrated approach could Windplan Groen succeed.”

Allard van der Steege, Ventolines

Continued listening
Now that Windplan Groen is operational, attention to the environment certainly does not diminish. Policy has been developed with the municipality to be able to take steps when residents come forward with comments or complaints. This policy focuses not only on enforcing legal standards but also on the experience of residents and how to address it. This is described in the so-called ‘Experience Framework’. This has led to active environmental management and input for the wind consortium to make improvements, even if complaints lie outside the legal responsibility of Windplan Groen.

Continuous improvements
The joint approach with the municipality has already led to tangible results. As a result of reports from the environment about shadow flicker, various improvements have been made. A better understanding has also emerged of where and when shadow flicker can occur and especially when it is not permissible. Reports about obstacle lighting have directly helped improve the adjustment of that lighting and have led to the introduction of a system where the lighting only comes on at night when there are aircraft nearby. This system will be operational for the entire Windplan Groen later this year.

“I consider it very important that the municipality, wind farms, and residents are good neighbors. This means that we not only enforce standards but also pay attention to what falls within the norm, the perception residents have of wind turbines, and how we deal with it.”

Lazise Hillebregt, Alderman Wind, Energy Transition, and Climate Adaptation, Municipality of Dronten

In addition to Ventolines and the Municipality of Dronten, Windplan Groen was made possible by 400 owners, the initiators, and the boards of the wind farms Ansjovisstroom, Hanze, Hoge Vaart Zuid, Hondtocht, Kubbeweg, Meeuwentocht, Oldebroekertocht, Olsterwind, Vires Venti, XY Wind, and Zeebiestocht, as well as many suppliers and advisors. Windshare also played a significant role, as did the Province of Flevoland, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate, and the Ministry of the Interior.

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(Press Release Windplan Groen on behalf of NWEA)

Want to know more? Visit www.windplangroen.nl or click here for a video about the construction phase of Windplan Groen.