Vestas, Rabobank and Windpark Zeewolde partner up to build Netherland’s largest onshore wind project

The wind park currently consists of more than 200 turbines which will be replaced by new Vestas turbines that will generate almost three times more energy with less than half the number of turbines, demonstrating the large potential in replacing older turbines with new and more efficient variants.

The financing of the windfarm will be arranged by Rabobank that will provide both the junior debt and a senior debt loan (approx. EUR 500m) for the construction of the project. Rabobank was keen to support the financing of this project, due to its cooperative structure comprising of a large client base of the bank in addition to supporting the energy transition.

Vestas has developed a customised solution that comprises a mix of turbine variants from the 2 MW and 4 MW platforms and a 20-year Active Output Management (AOM 5000) service contract, capable of maximising the annual energy production while meeting local restrictions.

"We are convinced that we have signed strong partners with Vestas and Rabobank with whom we can now realize the windfarm construction quickly and efficiently," says Sjoerd Sieburgh Sjoerdsma, Managing Director Windpark Zeewolde BV. “In October 2019 we already started with the construction of the substation and the wind farm infrastructure. This was based on the financing from our community showing the confidence and entrepreneurial spirit of our community. Now, with Vestas and Rabobank we can start the construction of the turbines”.

“I’m excited that our new customer Windpark Zeewolde B.V., chose Vestas as partner for such a unique wind energy project in my home country. It marks a great step for the renewable power supply of the region, and together with our partners, we are looking forward to repowering Europe’s largest community owned wind farm that is also Netherlands’ largest onshore wind project”, says Nils de Baar, President of Vestas Northern & Central Europe. “Leveraging customised wind energy solutions with the lowest levelised cost of energy, this repowering project, which more than 90 percent of the nearby community is backing up as shareholders, will almost triple the annual energy production.”

Rabobank was represented by Pieter Plantinga, Executive Director Project Finance during the process. He adds: “Watching tv, illuminating our houses, and nowadays working online from home: all available by the push of a button. Rabobank wants to ensure that when we press it, the consumed energy originates from renewable sources as much as possible. For that, we as a cooperative bank are willing to take financial risks if needed. Financing a wind farm of this magnitude requires months of effort from everyone involved. But it’s worth it, because this is a crucial step in achieving the goals of the Dutch Climate Agreement. Enabling the local community to profit from the revenues of park Zeewolde is a big plus and suits us as a cooperative bank.”

The delivery of the wind turbines is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2021. The entire park will be completed in 2022, and it will be the largest onshore wind farm in the Netherlands and the largest community-owned windfarm in Europe.Once repowered, the Zeewolde wind project will generate electricity for more than 250.000 local households.