High-capacity turbines produce more wind energy

Electricity generation from wind energy in the Netherlands has more than tripled since 2001. The increase is due to new high-capacity turbines. Last year, 2.4 percent of overall electricity consumption in the Netherlands was generated by wind turbines.

Electricity generation by wind turbines in the Netherlands

2 MW turbines

Since the end of 2001, total capacity of wind turbines on land and offshore increased by almost 500 megawatts (MW) to over 1,500 MW by the end of 2006. The total number of on-land wind turbines has declined for several years, but at the same time their capacity has risen.
Since 2006, many turbines with a capacity of 2 MW and more have been erected, resulting in a 50 percent higher average capacity for on-land turbines relative to 2005.

Number and capacity of recently erected on-land wind turbines,

Flevoland has most turbines

The province of Flevoland has most wind turbines, accounting for 38 percent of the overall wind capacity in the Netherlands. The rest is mainly found in the coastal provinces of Groningen, Friesland, North Holland, South Holland and Zeeland.
 
The first wind turbine park, off the coast near Egmond, became operational by the end of 2006. It consists of 36 turbines with a capacity of 3 MW each. The overall capacity of the wind park (108 MW) equals 7 percent of total wind capacity in the Netherlands.

Also more wind energy generated in the rest of Europe

In other European countries, the capacity generated by wind turbines has also tripled; from 17 thousand MW by the end of 2001 to 48 thousand MW by the end of 2006. Most wind turbines are found in Germany and Spain. These two countries account for two thirds of total European wind capacity.

Approximately 24 thousand MW was generated outside Europe. The overall capacity of Germany’s wind turbines exceeds the overall capacity generated in North America. The same applies to the overall wind capacity of Spain compared to the whole of Asia.

Capacity wind turbines in various countries by the end of 2006

Reinoud Segers