Wind energy

In the port of Rotterdam, numerous types of energy converge: coal and natural gas, but also biomass, heat, steam, solar and wind. The supply, production and distribution of energy is extensive. In this context, sustainable energy generation is an important development.

At the moment, total capacity of wind turbines installed in the Rotterdam port area is 200 megawatts (MW). This represents about 10 per cent of the total wind energy capacity in the Netherlands. The Dutch government has decreed that 14 per cent of Dutch energy production must be generated from renewable sources by 2020 and 16 per cent by 2023. The Port of Rotterdam Authority supports this through the ‘Convenant Realisatie Windenergie in de Rotterdamse haven’* (2009) (Agreement on Realisation of Wind Energy in the port of Rotterdam). In accordance with this agreement, at least 150 MW of new wind energy will be generated in public port areas by 2020. In the Port Vision, the Port Authority and various partners have agreed to achieve a total installed capacity of 300 MW by 2020. As a result, Rotterdam is well on its way to achieving its ambition to become the sustainable power plant of Northwest Europe.

*Signatories: the Dutch government (former Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment and Ministry of Economic Affairs), Province of Zuid-Holland, Municipality of Rotterdam, Deltalinqs, Dutch Wind Energy Association (NWEA), Rotterdam Climate Initiative (RCI), Province of Zuid-Holland Environmental Federation and the Port of Rotterdam Authority.