Westermeerwind is a nearshore wind farm on the Ijsselmeer that makes a significant contribution to the energy transition in the Noordoostpolder region. Along the Westermeerdijk and Noordermeerdijk, 48 wind turbines sport a combined capacity of 144 megawatts, generating renewable electricity for around 160,000 households.

The wind farm forms part of Windpark Noordoostpolder, which comprises 86 turbines in total. Its scale, nearshore setting and location within a unique water authority area make it one of the largest and most prominent nearshore wind farms in the Netherlands.

MILESTONES

An Overview of Key Completed Stages

Start of project development commenced

January 2011

Initial exploration and development activities are taken up by the project initiators.

EIA/Environmental studies launched

June 2012

Environmental and ecological studies are carried out to underpin the permitting process.

Start of construction

May 2015

Preparatory works are commenced.

Start of turbine installation

December 2015

Components are assembled on location.

Turbine testing

February 2016

Individual turbines are commissioned and tested.

Fully commissioned

End of 2017

All wind turbines are in full operation.

Our Contribution

Ventolines guided Westermeerwind from initial development through to its current operational phase. During preparation, we managed the permitting process, financing and the key contracts, and established a solid project structure. During construction, we oversaw delivery and coordinated all parties involved.

Since commissioning, we have been responsible for the full management of the wind farm – strategically, technically, commercially and financially. This comprehensive involvement has allowed us to deliver Westermeerwind efficiently and safely, with broad stakeholder support, and to keep optimising its performance.

Impact

Building a wind farm in the shallow waters of the IJsselmeer came with ecological, technical and logistical challenges. The area forms part of the European Ecological Main Structure, making careful integration and a robust permitting strategy essential.

The construction phase too, called for innovative solutions. The limited water depth, complex installation logistics and nature conservation requirements all demanded bespoke approaches. In this context, Westermeerwind was developed as a project that demonstrates that large-scale renewable generation is achievable even on sites that were previously considered too challenging.

A pivotal moment was the introduction of the “wind on a lake” category within the Dutch SDE subsidy scheme. This not only made the financing of Westermeerwind possible, but also laid an important foundation for future nearshore wind farms in the Netherlands.

Trends

Expertise

Westermeerwind