In the Netherlands, the construction of wind turbines on land has almost come to a standstill. But hybrid wind parks, in combination with a solar park, batteries and an industrial park (link in Dutch) could possibly solve problems: concerning construction, grid congestion and high electricity prices; according to Andre Oerlemans on change.inc. The first one is under construction already.
Hybrid wind parks
According to Rens Savenije, commercial manager of consultancy firm Ventolines, hybrid parks with wind, solar and a battery, are the solution to the present problems. An isolated wind park is a thing of the past, he said on the WindDay-congress 2025 in Rotterdam. Hybrid wind parks have a major advantage to the industry: there, they can obtain electricity behind the meter.
Wind turbines on land are being underrated, according to Savenije. Offshore wind isn’t the answer to everything. ‘Onshore wind is important for a cheap electricity price, security of delivery, independence, a balanced grid, less strengthening of the grid, and most important: for industry.’ For industry is looking for an answer to grid congestion and high transport tariffs. Wind energy, if offered in a good combination, may be the answer to those problems.
New parks
Over the past five years, a lot of parks were added in the Netherlands. In 2024, the addition amounted to 127 MW onshore wind. The total now amounts to almost 7 GW. Last year, about 3,000 turbines produced more than 16 TWh electricity. In 2030, this amount should be 55 TWh according to panning; but this goal doesn’t seem to be attainable anymore, because as of last year, the growth of onshore wind halts. ‘The pipeline is empty now. Onshore wind has come to a standstill,’ Savenije says.
There are several causes for this standstill. The most important is the opposition of municipalities and residents, because they fear noise, cast shadow and horizon pollution if wind turbines come too near. This results in permits being refused and lengthy objection procedures, up to the highest courts.
Grid congestion
But there are more problems. Because of grid congestion, electricity now produced cannot reach businesses and consumers. A new wind park isn’t even sure of a grid connection. The costs of grid reinforcement are being charged to consumers, and hence businesses are faced with rising transport costs of their electricity. Moreover: they do not earn anything when wind is blowing fast and there is a lot of sunshine; because then, electricity prices are zero or even negative. All this is relevant to the business case.
But there are positive trends as well. In order to use the grid more efficiently, grid owners come up with new contracts (ATOs), in which companies pay less if they do not use electricity at all times. Also, sharing a grid connection by companies becomes easier all the time. That is important: making use of this facility, companies can form an energy hub, in which they produce and use electricity together, making use of a single grid connection.
Batteries
The new factor now is that batteries have made inroads to the market. This renders storage of solar and wind energy much easier and cheaper. According to Savenije, that breakthrough makes itself felt. Three years ago, the main object of concern was the construction of a few very large wind parks. Now, 80 percent of the employees work on batteries. Batteries near wind parks, near solar parks, near industry.
Those batteries are of major importance for the continued growth of solar and wind energy. According to Savenije, wind arks will be much different in the future. He judges that future wind parks will be hybrid wind parks – in combination with solar energy and a battery. Already, wind park owners are adding batteries all the time. Solar parks are being added as well. The result of this is that the hybrid park can deliver electricity almost permanently. The last step, according to Savenije, is the corporate connection. A business park needs to be located next to the wind park. For them, there is a direct connection that can provide electricity to industry.
The polder
In the Dutch Noordoostpolder, such a hybrid wind park is under construction already. The wind turbines are there, solar parks are under construction now and as of early next year, a large 250 MW battery park will complete the hybrid wind park. One major advantage: the park is in the direct neighbourhood of a high-voltage station. In total: a sustainable energy unit of 1 GW in wind, solar and batteries; in one location, with one high-voltage connection.
So far, industry is the one component missing. And yet, companies will be attracted by this kind of hybrid wind parks. New business locations will be constructed near this kind of parks, instead of the other way around. According to Savenije, provinces and municipalities will have to plan and permit more often such concentrated clusters.
Industry will have to adapt its electricity use
This will offer a lot of advantages. If the business park produces its own electricity, companies do not have to pay transport costs. Then they do not have to wait for a grid connection. Any grid congestion will not play a role anymore, as renewable energy production and consumption will be tuned to each other locally. Companies will be assured of electricity supply, and because they share a connection, their costs fall and they burden less the grid. Less grid strengthening will be required. Such a cluster could even offer services to grid authorities in order for the grid to remain in balance.
But this does require measures. Industry in the cluster will have to have a more flexible attitude towards its electricity demand. They can no longer demand the full electricity capacity for 24 hours a day. There are moments when less energy is required, says Savenije, moments with no energy and many moments with an excess. If as an industry you would adapt your energy consumption, you would get a connection and transport capacity; but you would hardly pay any transport costs.
Industrial lobby for land-based wind energy
If industry could adapt itself in this way, there would come about another playing field. In the past, mainly farmers and citizens’ cooperatives were interested in the development of land-based wind parks. Now, mainly companies are interested. Industry would like to install wind turbines, for otherwise they will not get any transport capacity and cannot electrify. That’s why the need for land-based wind energy lies primarily with the industry. If the corporate community would adapt, it could enlarge and electrify even in times of grid congestion; and count on assured delivery and a good price for it’s electricity. That is the basis of political lobbying nowadays. The arena is changing!
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