Dutch Build Towering Wind Turbines Out at Sea

There is no shortage of wind in the densely-populated Netherlands but there is a shortage of space and in a nation which likes its houses small and its gardens cosy, opposition to wind farms is immense.

That is why a new Dutch wind farm is being built so far out to sea it is barely visible on the horizon, reducing the visual impact of its 60 turbines to virtually nil whilst at the same time harnessing higher offshore wind speeds.
Offshore wind farms are likely to appear more and more frequently off European coastlines as governments seek to increase their use of renewable energy without angering their citizens by placing giant turbines on their doorsteps.

The 383 million euro (US$522.3 million) Q7 wind park development, 23 km (14 miles) from the Dutch North Sea coast, is the farthest offshore wind park anywhere in the world, and its developers Econcern and Eneco Energie say a further five to 10 such wind parks will likely follow in the next few years.

“Q7 will contribute enough electricity for 125,000 households, but it is also a learning process. We are learning how to build these wind farms, how to organise the supply chain, and how to manage and operate them,” said Bernard van Hemert, one of the wind farm’s engineering directors.

Blessed with shallow sandy soils around their coastline, Dutch engineers say the foundations for the turbines can be hammered 25 metres (82 feet) into the ground in just a matter of hours, although there are myriad other challenges.

The proportions are breathtaking. The turbines extend about 98 metres (320 feet) from the ocean, with three sharp narrow blades, each 40 metres (130 feet) long.

Planet Ark