You now know them: the small windmills of 15 meters high on farm yards. They often don’t even stand out. But with a height of 15 meters you often cannot generate enough power for a farm. So there is now a test in four municipalities with higher farmers’ mills of 25 meters.
It is investigated whether they fit in the landscape, whether the neighbors can live with it and whether they generate more power. “That is the expectation,” says dairy farmer Jan Overeem from Zwiggelte. “That of ours must be able to yield about 50,000 kilowatt hours a year. Now we have had a winter with little wind, so we are expected to reach 42,000 in the first year, that is under the budget.” Nevertheless, Overeem is a bit proud of his new mill of 25 meters. “It is a hefty investment. 150,000 euros.”
Overeem: “For example, if you only have to dry and cool your potatoes, then you will probably need a mill of 15 meters. But we need more power. We have cows with grazing that go to the milking robot themselves. That goes on 24 hours a day. For the entire company they have around 80,000 to 90,000 kilowatt hours a year. We now also get the stream of the future. Solar panels on the stables so that we become completely self -sufficient. “
In the municipalities of Midden-Drenthe, Hoogeveen, De Wolden and Westerveld, a maximum of ten farmers for ten years per municipality can place a higher windmill, explains Alderman Jan Schipper (CDA) of Midden-Drenthe. “The province normally allows a maximum of 15 meters, but in this test that can be a maximum of 25 meters.”
If the test does not succeed, farmers must break off or lower their windmill after ten years. Overeem then reluctantly chooses the latter. “The mill has not yet been written off, but shortening the mill is still cheaper than building a new mill,” says Overeem. He has faith in a happy ending. A first careful interim reporting shows a positive image.
In Midden-Drenthe and Westerveld, a number of farmers did not dare, in De Wolden and Hoogeveen in the end. There was interest, but according to the municipalities the farmers think the financial risk is too great and it is too unclear when the test is successful.
But you can also reduce or spread the risk. Farmer Frank De Ronde went one step further in Hooghalen than just a 25-metermolen for his own use. Together with the neighborhood, he made an energy hub, where both wind and solar power are generated for his chicken farm and houses nearby.
According to Alderman Schipper, talking to your neighbors is the most important before you install a higher mill. “We think that these kinds of mills fit perfectly in the outlying area, but will consult with your neighbors.”
Overeem: “I spoke with neighbors from the distant surroundings, they said fine, but only for my own use. And now that he is there, they think it is all that is better than expected. Yes, they rise above the trees, but sometimes you really have to look for it. Especially on some more cloudy days or when he stands still, the mill with its light gray color does not really stand out.”
RTV Drenthe went to look at all higher mills. There is no question of noise or drop shadow like with the wind giants in the Veenkoloniën. You only hear the mill when you stand just below the farmyard itself.
The higher mills are currently in the outskirts of Zwiggelte, Hooghalen, Wapse, Wapserveen and Darp. Three agricultural companies still have a permit in Midden-Drenthe. Whether they will also come is still waiting.
The only current application in De Wolden is not from a farmer, but from Waterbedrijf WMD. WMD wants to provide the drinking water pump station at Alteveer with green steam, but is still running against rules that no windmills should be built in a water extraction area.