The Netherlands is investing heavily in wind energy. The country will double its total capacity to 21 gigawatts
The Netherlands is going to double its offshore wind energy capacity. The country will provide 10.7 gigawatts of additional energy by building three new offshore wind farms. With these new areas, the total capacity will be doubled to 21 gigawatts, with which all Dutch households can be supplied more than twice. However, much of this energy surplus is needed to power the energy-guzzling industry, which now uses gas and hydrogen.
The plan was confirmed on Friday by Ministers Rob Jetten (Climate and Energy, D66) and Mark Harbers (Infrastructure and Water Management, VVD). According to the two ministers, a total of 750 to 800 wind turbines of 300 meters high will be installed in the North Sea, spread over three areas north of the Dutch Wadden Islands. The construction of the new parks will cost 1.69 billion euros.
The Danish energy giant Ørsted, which has two existing wind farms in the North Sea, is pleased with the Dutch government’s plans. “It is necessary to achieve the climate goals. We are also making ourselves less dependent on Russian gas.” according to Ørsted spokesperson Joël Meggelaars†
climate targets
There are already two wind farms in the Dutch part of the North Sea, which together produce 2.5 gigawatts of energy. This should be increased to 4.5 gigawatts within two years and 11 gigawatts by 2030.
The expansions are desperately needed to help the Dutch industry further green, resulting in the country being able to achieve the European climate targets of 2030. These state that greenhouse gas emissions with ten at least 55 percent fall by 2030† To ensure that the Netherlands achieves this, the current government wants to aim for 60 percent.
Independent source
Wind energy can be an important source of energy in the future, because it is independent of political vagaries. It could be part of a multi-pronged approach to ending dependence on fossil fuels. Recently there was the new startup Quaise Energy, which aims to tap into an unlimited supply of geothermal energy by drilling a deep hole in the earth.
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