Vattenfall Wants to Combine Wind and Solar Farms in the Netherlands

In 2015, Vattenfall has already installed a solar power plant in a pilot project in the wind farm of Parc Cynog in Wales, where the panels deliver about a quarter of the energy of the wind power plants. The results of this pilot project were so convincing that subsidiary Nuon is now also testing the system in the Netherlands.

Efficient use of the infrastructure

The great advantage of a solar farm within a wind farm is that the power supply can be used more efficiently. The stated power supply of a wind farm is calculated in each case at peak load, but in practice this is rarely or never reached, which means excess capacity. This capacity, in turn, could actually be achieved by setting up additional solar collectors.

Margit Deimel from the development department for wind at Nuon explains the principle: "Nuon relies on the growth of CO2-free energy sources. Together with wind energy, the widespread use of solar energy in the energy sector is indispensable. Together with Swedish parent company Vattenfall, we are investing heavily in these technologies. By combining wind farms with cost-effective solar panels, we make the most of the opportunities."

Nuon wants to realize solar plants in Eemshaven, Hemweg, Velsen, Wieringermeer Oudendijk and Haringvliet. In total, more than 250,000 solar modules with a capacity of more than 70 MW are to be installed in order to be able to supply tens of thousands of households.

Crowdfunding

It is also important that local residents near wind farms have already come into contact with the local energ transition and therefore have fewer restraints for a further use of renewable energy sources. This is why Nuon wants to offer local residents the opportunity to invest in wind and solar farms, which can be done, for example, by crowdfunding. In this area, too, the company has accumulated experience in the past, which could now come to bear.

In addition, Nuon has experimented with large batteries to save the green energy. This is currently being tested at the Princess Alexia Wind Farm in Zeewolde. Whether this technology will also be used in the combined wind and solar farms will be decided later.