Windpark Fryslân

Windpark Fryslân Wind Farm Profile

Location: Windpark Fryslân is situated in the Frisian part of the IJsselmeer, near Breezanddijk, in the Netherlands.

Project Details:

• Capacity: The wind farm has a total capacity of 382.7 MW, generated by 89 wind turbines, each with a 4.3 MW nameplate capacity.
• Turbines: The turbines are supplied by Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy (SGRE) and are of the SWT-DD-130 model.
  • Hub Height: 115 meters
  • Tip Height: 180 meters
  • Rotor Diameter: 130 meters
  • Blades: 63 meters long, manufactured in Morocco.

Development and Construction:

• Developer: The project was developed by Ventolines, with ownership shared between Windpark Fryslân Holding B.V. (75.5%) and others (24.5%).
• Construction: The construction began in 2020 and was completed in December 2021. The project was built by the contracting consortium Zuiderzeewind, which includes Van Oord Offshore Wind and Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy.
• Phases: The construction took place in several phases, starting with the installation of 89 foundation piles (monopiles) in the IJsselmeer. Due to the unique conditions, a special working platform called the "Sarens Soccer Pitch" was used for the installation.

Infrastructure and Operations:

• Foundations: The wind turbines are installed on fixed monopile foundations, each 40 meters long and 4.5 meters in diameter, supplied by EEW SPC.
• Cabling: The power is transmitted via 33 kV inter-array cables and 55 km of 110 kV export cables to the transformer station at Breezanddijk. From there, it is connected to the TenneT high-voltage grid at Oudehaske.
• Maintenance: Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy is responsible for the operations and maintenance (O&M) of the wind farm for a period of 16 years.

Environmental Impact and Benefits:

• Energy Production: The wind farm produces 1.5 terawatt hours (1,500,000 MWh) of electricity annually, which is enough to power approximately 500,000 households and accounts for about 1.2% of the Netherlands' electricity use.
• Carbon Emissions Reduction: The wind farm offsets around 800,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year.
• Nature Reserve: A nature island of approximately 2 hectares above water and 25 hectares below water was created during the construction. This island serves as a protected area for birds and an artificial reef for fish.

Financial and Community Aspects:

• Power Purchase Agreement: The power generated is sold to Eneco Holding under a 15-year power purchase agreement.
• Financial Participation: The Province of Fryslân has a financial participation in the project and considers transferring part of this participation to residents in the form of bonds.
• Environment Fund: A portion of the revenue (€720,000) will be deposited into an environment fund for 20 years to support local environmental initiatives suggested by residents of Fryslân.

Unique Features:

• Layout: The wind turbines are arranged in a hexagonal cluster to minimize the visual impact on the horizon.
• Lighting: The wind turbines have aviation lighting, with the outermost 30 turbines equipped with a new radar detection system to switch off lighting at night when there is no air traffic nearby.