RWE commissions first turbine in Zuidwester wind farm

German group RWE has started commissioining of the first turbine installed at the Zuidwester onshore wind farm located on the dyke along the shore of Ijsselmeer, the Netherlands.

It was the first of twelve wind turbines to be installed at the farm that can generate 7.5 mw of power.

The construction work of Zuidwester was initiated to replace its 50 old turbines installed in the 1980s and 1990s.

The new turbines will generate altogether 90 mw of power. Each of the new turbines can generate as much electricity as all old 50 turbines combined.

The project has witnessed a total investment of more than €150m.

RWE Innogy CEO Hans Bünting said: "Between 1987 and 1991, the wind farm at this excellent site was not only our largest wind project, but also the largest of its kind in Europe with 50 turbines and a total capacity of 15 megawatts.

"We are now building the Zuidwester wind farm with twelve turbines and a total capacity of 90 megawatts, which again makes it one of RWE’s largest wind farms.

"Technological progress is taking on concrete form here. It is enabling us to make better use of scarce land resources and simultaneously increase our contribution towards meeting the Dutch targets for developing renewable energies and the European energy transition."

The wind farm is expected to be fully operational in 2017 that will supply electricity to over 90,000 homes annually.

RWE Construction Manager Rick van Mensvoort said: "We started building work here in March 2014. That was followed by the construction of the substation, the laying of the electricity cables and the installation of foundations and towers.

"Three weeks ago, we were able to install the first wind turbine.

"Yesterday, we have connected the first turbine to the grid to generate green electricity. We are completely on schedule and expect to commission the complete wind farm in 2017."