In the coming years, Rotterdam will focus on the expansion of wind energy in the port area followed by more wind farms on the North Sea. Maasvlakte 2 will be used as a testing ground to develop the needed technology.
Alderman Arno Bonte (Sustainability, Air Quality and Energy Transition) sees wind energy as an essential link in the energy transition: ‘Wind is an inexhaustible source of energy. By using wind energy, we avoid CO2 emissions and become less independent of fossil fuels.’
Testing Ground
Maasvlakte 2 is a testing ground for companies working with offshore wind energy. For example, at the end of this year, the largest and most powerful wind turbine in the world will be installed in Rotterdam. In the coming years, this wind turbine will be used as a test turbine. The intention is that after the test period, this type of wind turbine will be used for new offshore wind farms in the future.
Bonte: ‘This mega wind turbine has a capacity of 12 MW. We want to build 1000 turbines of this type in offshore wind farms in the coming years. That is good for clean air in Rotterdam and creates jobs in Rotterdam.’
100 Wind Turbines in Port Area
In the coming years, Rotterdam will focus on the expansion of wind energy in the port area. By 2025, some 100 wind turbines are to be operational within the boundaries of the municipality of Rotterdam, up from 72 today. The 100 wind turbines supply a total of 227,000 households with electricity generated by wind energy annually.
Landfall in Rotterdam
Alderman Bonte expects the most from new offshore wind farms: ‘The expansion of offshore wind energy provides the green energy we need for the port area.’ The planned landfall of the electricity to be generated from offshore wind farms must also be realised in Rotterdam as far as the municipality is concerned.
