The Kingdom of the Netherlands has officially launched Europe’s first subsidy-free offshore wind farm, Hollandse Kust Zuid 1-4. Vattenfall noted that the project will not receive any financial aid from the government, which substantially reduces risks and inherent costs.
The offshore wind farm is also apparently one of the largest of its kind across the world and the first direct investment of Allianz.
About the Hollandse Kust Zuid 1-4
According to the joint press release, the Hollandse Kust Zuid 1-4 sits in the North Sea, 18 km to 36 km (11-22 miles) off the Dutch coast between Scheveningen and Zandvoort.
The offshore wind farm has 139 “super powerful” wind turbines with a 1.5 GW maximum capacity. Its annual power generation is apparently sufficient to support 1.5 million households.
According to Electrek, the initial plan for the project was 140 wind turbines. However, one of the foundations at the site got damaged during a storm.
Technical details
The wind turbines are actually Siemens Gamesa’s 11.0-200 DD units. Each of them has a 200-meter (656 feet) rotor diameter and 31,400 sqm (337,987 square feet) swept area.
It is also worth noting that three of the wind turbines feature Siemens Gamesa’s latest recyclable blades. Moreover, the developers also ensured that the resin used to bind the blades is easy to liquefy for potential recycling when the wind turbines’ operational life ends.
Presented below are some of the key details of the Hollandse Kust Zuid 1-4’s wind turbines:
| Hollandse Kust Zuid | Details |
| Capacity | 11 MW |
| Height | 225 meters above sea level |
| Rotor diameter | 200 meters |
| Blade | 97 meters |
| Weight of foundation | 735-955 tons |
| Length of foundation | 62-75 meters |
| Diameter foundation | 7-8 meter |
| Seabed at a depth | 17-28 meters |
| Inter array grid cables | 315km of 66kV |
| Area coverage | 225 km2 |
Project proponents
Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Allianz, Vattenfall, and BASF board members initiated the Hollandse Kust Zuid 1-4’s inauguration on Friday.
For context, Swedish power firm Vattenfall, German chemical firm BASF, and European multinational insurance and financial services provider Allianz are the respective owners of the Hollandse Kust Zuid offshore wind farm.
Vattenfall’s Head of Wind expressed delight with the project’s inauguration, saying that it will enable clean energy generation for businesses and households.
“Vattenfall aims to be a leader in the energy transition and offshore wind is essential for energy security and to achieve net zero. The realization of a project of this magnitude makes me really proud and today is a great example of what we can achieve when partnering with industry. Hollandse Kust Zuid will not only contribute to reducing BASF’s carbon footprint but will also help meet local businesses and households demand for fossil free electricity.”
Helene Biström, Head of Wind at Vattenfall
BASF SE’s Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors also asserted that the project is crucial for the region to hit its Net Zero goals.
“Hollandse Kust Zuid plays an important role in our transition toward Net Zero. Nearly half of the electricity from Hollandse Kust Zuid will be used to reduce the carbon footprint of our products at BASF sites in Europe. With this ambitious project, we continue to be a pioneer in the industry, securing green energy via direct investments. It makes me very proud that together with our strong partners, we can today inaugurate this windfarm. I’m looking forward to more such projects, as we at BASF stand firmly by our climate-neutrality commitment.”
Dr. Martin Brudermüller, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF SE
Likewise, Allianz CEO also noted the project’s potential to alleviate the climate crisis by generating power from renewable energy.
“Allianz invests policyholder funds in renewable energy and owns more than 100 wind and solar farms. I am delighted that today we are opening our first direct investment in an offshore wind farm, together with BASF and Vattenfall. This underlines the ability of partnerships to catalyse action and bring climate solutions to life.”
Oliver Bäte, CEO of Allianz
See Also:
- Siemens Gamesa faces major wind turbine issues, poses a challenge for clean energy transition
- The world’s most potent wind turbine has generated its first power
- China launches the world’s largest rotor diameter offshore wind turbine
- World’s First Wind Turbine with Recyclable Blades is up and spinning
- A turbine prototype has set a new 24-hour wind power world record
The project proponents expect the Hollandse Kust Zuid 1-4 to hit full operation as early as 2024. According to the press release, almost 50% of the clean energy will supply BASF sites in Europe.
