Along the N34 near Emmen work is being done on the plans for a new wind farm. Originally, five wind turbines would come there of 149 meters high. Pure Energie is now preparing an investigation into the possibility of placing considerably higher wind turbines, up to 280 meters, a lot higher than what the municipal policy allows.
According to the rules of the municipality, wind turbines may be a maximum of 149 meters high. An exception is only possible if the environment agrees. During an information evening, local residents could give their opinion, but there seemed to be much support for higher turbines.
“With such high mills I can no longer sit in my house normally. At this time of the year I have a lot of problems with the drop shadow,” said a concerned local resident.
The original plans with wind turbines of 150 meters also evoke resistance, but the idea of even higher turbines encounters extra objections. According to local residents, lower mills stand out less in the landscape and cause less nuisance. Also, no striking red warning lamps are needed at lower turbines.
“Although that has changed with current technology,” says developer Pure Energie. “The red lamps at higher mills only come on if there is a plane nearby.”
Pure energy currently looks at four different variants of turbines, with heights between 150 and 280 meters. It is part of the procedure that various options are being investigated.
Higher windmills provide more energy each. As a result, less is needed, which makes the project cheaper and more efficient. At the same time, local residents acknowledge that larger mills can also cause more noise, drop shadow and visual impact.
“That is exactly what we are going to investigate,” said Pure Energie. “We want to map out what the effects are.”
The preference of the developer lies with a smaller number, but higher wind turbines. Yet such wind turbines cannot just be built along the N34. Only if the environment agrees may it be deviated from the municipal policy. The mills would remain standing for a period of sixteen years and then have to be removed.