The Whspr silent heat pump produces far less noise than a regular heat pump, so that it can be installed anywhere around the home, even on the property boundary. It also has a compact square design that gives it a less prominent appearance. Nevertheless, the heat pump offers the same level of thermal comfort. The Whspr is an ideal solution for people who want more sustainable heating without compromising on space and without uncomfortable noise levels for themselves or their neighbours.

Solution for terraced housing
Of the 8 million or so residential properties in the Netherlands, 42% are terraced houses. Many still depend entirely on a central heating boiler, even though adding a hybrid heat pump is more sustainable. Factors that people consider when deciding whether to instal a heat pump include what it costs, where to position the pump, what modifications have to be made to the home and how much noise it produces. The issues of noise and location are now solved by the Whspr. Eneco in Huis has spent the past months conducting an extensive pilot that tested the heat pumps for noise level, thermal comfort and ease of installation.

Results of the pilot
The pilot ran during the winter months, across a representative range of residential units. Heat pumps were installed in private homes, but also in rental homes of housing corporation Wooncompagnie, with conditions ranging from simple to quite complex. This made extensive testing possible of both the technical performances and the users’ experiences.

In the early stages of the pilot, it emerged that the heat pumps’ configuration was not optimal. After this issue was resolved, the heat pumps performed as expected. Feedback from users showed that the system heated the homes to a comfortable level and made little noise, either inside or outside. The self-regulating capability to determine when to activate and deactivate the pump was described as convenient, as was the pump’s low electrical consumption.

The pilot revealed several points to improve in the system, and the design has been modified accordingly. For example, two control buttons that only the installer ever needs to use are now covered, and several of the icons on the display have been made easier to see. Another finding was that the heat pumps are very simple to instal, even by less experienced technicians. A great benefit that emerged was that the pumps could be installed without adding an extra circuit group.

Finalised design
The pilot confirms that the Whspr heat pump is a viable and quieter alternative that works very well in terraced housing. Whspr expects to introduce the finalised design in July. If all goes according to schedule, by the end of the year the heat pumps will be available to customers who want to switch to a quieter and more sustainable heating system.

Participants’ home batteries have since December been being used to supply power to the grid to help reduce congestion and ease power peaks. Between 4pm and 9pm they will supply power to the net. Charging stations deliver less power during that peak or only start charging once the grid is less busy. This means the car will be fully charged a bit later, but still well in time for the next morning.

·       In the past six months Eneco, Essent, Zonneplan, and Frank Energie have connected about 85 home batteries that are now being steered to help relieve the grid.

·       Eneco, Essent, Vattenfall, and Easee have a combined 2,200 home chargers that are either enrolled in smart charging or where owners are avoiding the peak hours manually.

·       Greenchoice and Quatt will also start steering heat pumps.

All of this will contribute to relieving the electricity grid during peak hours. Concrete numbers are not yet available, we expect to have these in a couple of months.

Over the course of this year, the participants want to further expand the number of areas where the initiative applies. They will also look into whether home batteries can be used in the summer, for example on sunny days when a lot of electricity is generated by solar panels and fed back into the grid.

Households who use more heat than average will benefit more from the lower variable rate and will see their yearly costs decrease.

Eneco’s fixed and variable rates for next year match the rates permitted by law, as established for 2025 by the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM).

Decrease of gas price and rise of fixed costs

Rates for heating are established annually by the ACM, based on the principle of ‘no more than otherwise’ (in Dutch: niet-meer-dan-anders, or NMDA) relative to natural gas and the use of a central heating boiler. If gas prices drop, the variable heat rate also goes down.

The variable rate will drop by nearly 3 euros compared with this year, to €40.97 per gigajoule (GJ) for 2025 as a result of the fallen gas prices. Eneco’s fixed rates will rise by 5.60 euros per month (including VAT).

We are raising the fixed costs because our costs for maintenance of and improvements on our heating grids have continued to go up and because our heating sources cost more. For instance, we invest in cleaner heat sources and modernization of the grids in order to make sure our heat supply is sustainable and reliable, also in the future.

Further information for customers 

Starting today, Eneco will be sending out personalised announcements to heating customers about their rates for 2025. Customers can also find out more on the heating and cooling page on Eneco’s website (in Dutch only).  

The NMDA principle 

Under the Dutch Heating Act (Warmtewet), the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) establishes maximum rates based on the principle of ‘no more than otherwise’ (in Dutch: niet-meer-dan-anders, or NMDA), where the rates are compared with the price of natural gas. This means that heating customers should pay no more for heat than they would in a similar home set-up with a central heating boiler that runs on gas.

The acquisition fits within Eneco’s strategy to accelerate sustainable growth in the Dutch small- and medium-sized business market and to contribute to the energy transition. The activities of Gulf Gas + Power’s will be integrated into Eneco over the course of 2026. Until then, services to customers will remain unchanged.

Eneco and Gulf Gas + Power are not disclosing any financial details regarding this acquisition.

Under these contracts, XOCEAN will deliver bathymetric survey services across the six offshore wind farms. The work includes the acquisition of high-resolution data to assess the condition of monopile foundations, inter-array cables, and export cable assets. This data will support ongoing maintenance programmes and contribute to maximizing asset uptime and long-term performance.

XOCEAN will deploy its remotely operated Uncrewed Surface Vessels (USVs) - an innovative, low-carbon approach to ocean data collection. This technology offers significant advantages in safety, efficiency, and environmental performance compared to traditional survey methods.

By leveraging its growing fleet of USVs, XOCEAN will help these offshore wind farms reduce operational carbon emissions while enhancing survey quality and repeatability. The company’s advanced methodologies and data analytics will enable asset owners to make informed maintenance decisions with reduced risk and downtime.

FØN Energy Services will perform above water Balance of Plant (BoP) Inspection, Repair, and Maintenance (IRM) services and below water Remote Operating Vehicle (ROV) surveys for the wind farms from 2026. For some wind farms the services will commence later, when operations start (Ecowende) or when existing commitments have expired.

FØN Energy Services will introduce innovative technologies and advanced methodologies to optimize performance, enhance safety, and minimize downtime. In this way, the company will help ensure the continued safe and efficient operation of these critical assets.

By combining these six wind farms into one single tender, the wind farm owners, with Eneco as operator, were able to achieve significant improvements in efficiency and cost-effectiveness by leveraging economies of scale and streamlining coordination across the entire portfolio. This contract underscores both FØN’s and the windfarm owners' dedication to operational excellence and their roles as a leader in and as supporter to the renewable energy development in Europe.

"The innovative mindset and proven track record of FØN Energy Services align perfectly with our shared dedication to the transition to sustainable energy. Bringing the contracts for these assets under one umbrella will allow us to reduce complexity, improve planning, and maximize operational synergies. For example mobilizing for a campaign covering all windfarms instead of individual visits. ", said Remco Streppel, head of operations at Eneco.

FØN Energy Services also expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration:
"We are grateful for the trust the owners of these wind farms have placed in us", said Sindre Rhrich, CEO at FØN Energy Services. "With our pragmatic, ‘get-it-done’ approach and focus on innovation, we are confident in our ability to deliver exceptional results and contribute to the success of these landmark projects."

The Prinses Amalia wind park, operational since 2008, consists of 60 Vestas V80 turbines with a combined capacity of 120 MW. Deutsche Windtechnik will deploy permanent staff for all maintenance and troubleshooting, providing tools, components, maintenance materials, engineering support, and back-office services.

Close collaboration is central to the agreement 

Eneco and Deutsche Windtechnik jointly define maintenance priorities and requirements, with operations managed from the shared facilities in IJmuiden to make optimal use of staff, vessels, and assets. The cooperation aims to improve turbine availability and optimise energy output throughout the remaining operational period.

Naus was recently made Chair of the Advisory Board of Cardano Nederland N.V., having served as that company’s CEO since 2014. Between 1997 and 2014 he worked for ING Bank and ING Barings in various roles, though mostly in risk management, after an early career with Bank Nederlandse Gemeenten (1993-1997). He has held a seat on ING Group’s Supervisory Board since 2020. Naus has a degree in Applied Physics from Eindhoven University of Technology.

He succeeds Michael Enthoven on the Supervisory Board. Enthoven’s term in office is ending after serving with N.V. Eneco and its predecessor Eneco Groep N.V. since 2018.

In 2010, Eneco signed a ‘concession’ agreement with the Municipality of Rotterdam to supply heat to five of Rotterdam’s central districts: Kralingen-Crooswijk, Delfshaven, parts of Feijenoord, Noord and Rotterdam Centrum (not including Katendrecht, Lloydkwartier or Mullerpier). Under that agreement, Eneco would discount the rates that it charged to residents of those districts who were newly connected to Eneco’s heating grid. The discount took effect from 2013.

Customers in those five districts whose homes were already connected to the heating grid before the concession are not entitled to the discount, nor are customers connected to parts of Eneco’s heating grid outside those districts. The discount similarly does not apply to customers who draw heat and cold from a thermal storage unit. Nor does the arrangement cover Eneco customers in Rotterdam with an electricity and/or gas contract, but not a heat connection.

The customers who are eligible for the refund will be informed personally this week, and may expect their money around mid-December. How much each customer will be refunded varies per address, depending on when the home was connected to the heating grid, how long the customer’s contract lasted and how much heat they used. The discounts to which the customers are entitled for the period until the end of 2024 will be paid out in December. Customers who previously lived in the concession area but have since moved house will also be contacted, if Eneco was legally allowed to keep their details on file.  

A separate category includes around 400 addresses outside the concession area where, for example, a discount was agreed with a housing corporation. Those clients will also be informed personally this week. Residents of the ‘Aardgasvrij’ (no-gas) project area in the Bospolder-Tussendijken district have their own specific discount arrangement; however, that discount has been applied correctly. 

Update to the system  
Starting 1 January 2025, all clients will be charged at the correct rates, and Eneco has updated its accounting and recordkeeping system to prevent this from happening again in the future. A slight possibility remains that subsequent checks will reveal further locations during the period ahead. If so, Eneco will of course act immediately to take appropriate steps.

On 1 October, Eneco began work to replace the old heat pipes under Neude square, which have reached the end of their useful life. A new route has been selected where the heat pipes cross Neude, to avoid digging too close to the fronts of the buildings surrounding the square. The main pipes have already been laid, and Eneco is now laying the pipes that branch off towards the surrounding buildings. Transect archaeologist Jesse Braiek has overseen the work from the start.

“The square takes its name from the old Dutch word node, meaning a boggy area,” Braiek explains. “It’s had the same shape for the past 500 years, and we can learn a great deal about the square through the ages from the digs. We can see that a huge load was dumped here a few hundred years ago, including household waste. I don’t often find so many old items from the same period in such a small area. We suspect that Utrecht’s medieval inhabitants undertook an operation to make the boggy area habitable.”

The finds will be cleaned for further study before being handed over to the municipality of Utrecht. Having archaeologists do research is mandatory when working in historical areas. Sometimes this can lead to delays, because works need to be halted for every find. Nonetheless, Eneco hopes to finish the work before the Christmas holidays.

In April 2024 the Berenplaat Floating Solar Farm opened. Now Eneco also wants to give the local area an impulse to make sustainability and liveability initiatives possible. To give this shape, they have set up a community environment fund to allocate a total of around €31,000*. Initiatives with the potential to make a positive contribution to sustainability, liveability and landscape are eligible for funding.

How to apply
Local residents, sports clubs, associations, foundations and other organisations may submit their initiatives via the project website (only in Dutch) from 2 September until 1 November. A panel of judges will then consider the proposals that have come in. In December, Eneco will announce which initiatives can look forward to funding to help put their idea into practice.

The website includes information about what requirements apply, and on what criteria the submissions will be judged.

The islands of Tholen, Sint Philipsland and Schouwen-Duiveland have seen a rapid growth in the number of households with solar panels. As a result, at times the electricity production is greater than the amount being consumed, putting the electrical grid at its maximum capacity. Stedin is engaged in an ongoing search for solutions to match electricity supply and demand. The pilot is aimed at consumers, and the plan is for it to be rolled out on a larger scale in 2025. This initial pilot will be conducted on Schouwen-Duiveland, Sint Philipsland and Tholen – parts of Zeeland province where rooftop solar power has grown rapidly. At peak sunshine moments, 50% of the electricity that is produced comes from consumers’ solar panels, and this proportion is only expected to increase further.

Role for households
Sustainable energy production is growing faster than grid operators can reinforce their grids, despite record-level investments. On days that are both sunny and windy, production is already often more than the amount of electricity being used. As more and more homeowners install solar panels, and the volume of consumer-produced sustainable electricity increases, this trial will establish whether those consumers can play a role in reducing the pressure on the electrical grid on sunny days. It will also examine how best to give shape to the arrangements between households and the energy sector.

Stedin CTO David Peters comments, “We want to use this pilot to find out how to get consumers to participate in relieving the pressure on the electrical grid. If it proves successful, we want to broaden the scope. This will create possibilities for more sustainable production. In the pilot, customers of Eneco are asked to switch off their solar panels manually for short periods of time. If this goes well, we want to examine automatic solutions as well, for customers who give their consent.”

“More and more people in the Netherlands have solar panels,” explains Selina Thurer, COO Consumers at Eneco. “Of course this is wonderful for increasing the proportion of green electricity in our supply. However, it also means that the electrical grid is incapable of handling all that electricity at peak moments. Switching off solar panels for short periods can solve this problem. We’re happy to be part of this pilot. We want to find out how great the effect is, and what the best way is to encourage owners of solar panels to participate in ways to help prevent local grid congestion.” 

The pilot will run from 20 August to 30 September. Eneco has sent emails to a group of customers in the feed-in area, inviting them to participate. Customers of Eneco on Tholen, Sint Philipsland and Schouwen-Duiveland can still sign up at www.eneco.nl/slim-schakelen. Customers who have signed up will be sent an email one day in advance with the date, time and payment for the next curtailment. On that day, those customers will then manually switch off their solar panels at the appropriate time. Each household’s total payment is then calculated according to how often its solar panels were switched off. Participating customers will also be contacted by telephone with questions about the pilot.

Mr Asakura joins Eneco from Mitsubishi Corporation, where he is currently Senior Vice President  and General Manager of the CEO Office in the Power Solution Group, leading the business strategy of the Power Solution Group as the head of the strategic support organisation for the Power Solution Group CEO.

Mr Asakura joined Mitsubishi Corporation in 1991 and has fulfilled many roles within the company. He has gained substantial executive experience in the international energy business as a former President of Diamond Generating Corporation in Los Angeles, USA, and in IPP business development as project manager in Indonesia and Mexico earlier in his career.

Mr Asakura holds a master’s degree in Science and Engineering from Waseda University.

The CCIO is responsible for the strategic interaction between Eneco, Mitsubishi Corporation and Chubu Electric Power, the second shareholder of Eneco. He also stimulates the roll-out of Eneco’s business into international markets, with a particular focus on the extra-large project development such as green hydrogen.

Since 2020, the shares in N.V. Eneco are owned by Mitsubishi Corporation (80%) and Chubu Electric Power (20%).

Eneco CEO As Tempelman comments, “On behalf of the Management Board, I am pleased to welcome Bram to Eneco. He brings a wealth of experience in strategy development, a profound understanding of the energy transition and an inclusive leadership style. I firmly believe that Bram’s contributions will be of great value as we continue to develop and implement our One Planet Plan.” 

Bram adds, “I am looking forward to joining Eneco. It is inspiring to see how the company takes on a leading role in making our energy system more sustainable and how passionate its staff are about accelerating the pace of the energy transition in numerous areas. I cannot wait to help give shape to these ambitious goals and their practical implementation.”  

As an expert partner at McKinsey, Bram advises companies in the energy sector, as well as government authorities and investors, and he plays a leading part in developing integrated market perspectives. Besides previous roles at McKinsey, he has also worked for consultancy firms Ecofys in Utrecht and Ecomod Global Modelling in Brussels. Bram studied Econometrics at Maastricht University, and he has a PhD in Sustainable Economics. 

CEO of Eneco, As Tempelman responds: 'This is a great step! For a long time, it looked as if no agreement could be reached on this point, and of course you would have liked a firmer wording. But we've crossed this Rubicon for now, and that's good news for everyone who cares about the future of the Earth, our children and future generations. At Eneco, we will make our contribution by aiming to be climate neutral by 2035.'

In the One Planet plan, which was presented in June 2021, Eneco indicates how it wants to achieve net-zero CO2 emissions by 2035. Tackling the climate problem. Can it be done faster? (eneco.com)

Customers with a variable contract who have been informed about their new tariffs in October, will continue to pay the same tariffs in January.  Their current rates are € 0.39381 per kWh of electricity and € 1.36192 per m³ of gas. As a result of the changes in Energy Tax, from 1 January 2024 the costs per kWh of electricity will drop slightly to € 0.37299. However, at € 1.47470 per m³ gas will become more expensive.

Price ceiling 
From 1 January 2024, the price ceiling will no longer apply. This means that from that moment, customers will again be charged the full electricity and gas tariffs.

The variable tariffs for January 2024 will apply to about one third of customers with a variable contract.

A dynamic contract can be an interesting option for consumers whose energy consumption equals or exceeds the amount of energy generated by their solar panels. Especially when energy consumption can be planned during hours when prices are low.  They can use the electricity generated by their solar panels and supplement it with energy that will be charged at rates based on the current hourly price for electricity and daily price for gas. An Eneco Dynamic contract also gives households with solar panels installed on their roofs more control over their costs and allows them to contribute to making our energy consumption more sustainable.

For more information on Eneco Dynamisch go to the dynamic contract web page or read our previously issued press release.

Thanks to a combined 50 years of experience in the North Sea, Eneco and Equinor are in the perfect position to deliver on and contribute to the future-proof roll-out of offshore wind energy in the Netherlands. The two companies want to contribute to the Netherlands reaching its decarbonization targets by integrating offshore wind into the Dutch energy system while ensuring biodiversity, and co-existence with marine and above-water life. While the focus of the current collaboration is on the IJmuiden Ver wind tenders, the two parties foresee to further explore opportunities to collaborate in Northwestern Europe.

The combination of Eneco’s strong presence in the Netherlands and Equinor’s scale in Europe and beyond brings a trusted and complimentary partnership for a CO2-free electricity sector by 2035 in Netherlands.

Eneco is a leading renewable energy company and offshore wind developer in the Netherlands and Belgium with projects such as Hollandse Kust (west) VI, Hollandse Kust (noord) V, Borssele III & IV in the Netherlands and Norther in Belgium. It has the ambition to further grow its offshore wind portfolio, one of the important pillars of its goal of climate neutrality in 2035. Equinor aims to take leading positions in the energy transition and believes its energy solutions will contribute to the low-carbon Europe of the future. The international energy company headquartered in Norway has been an important energy provider to the Netherlands for many years and has a broad energy offering that can support the country’s energy transition: gas, hydrogen, carbon capture and offshore storage and offshore wind. The company has already developed a large global renewable portfolio and has the ambition to further grow this to 12 – 16 GW in 2030. Equinor is currently building Dogger Bank in the North Sea, which will be the world’s largest offshore wind farm. It also operates other offshore windfarms in the North Sea such as Hywind Tampen in Norway and Sheringham Shoal, Dudgeon, and Hywind Scotland in the UK.

A total of 43 sustainable initiatives had been submitted. The jury assessed them according to the applicable criteria and, based on this, half of the initiatives can now count on a financial contribution from the fund. This is the largest number of winners since the fund's inception. As this was also the last round of the Luchterduinen Fund, the jury wanted to help as many projects as possible financially.

The Eneco Luchterduinen Fund was set up to enable residents, associations and foundations of the coastal municipalities in the vicinity of the wind farm to actively contribute to increasing sustainability or enhancing the coastal experience. Initiatives could be submitted until the end of 2022. 

Winners by municipality:

• Bloemendaal
  • Staatsbosbeheer to repair 8 historic bridges at Elswout country estate
  • Het Groene Strand for training guides who will lead Green beach excursions
  • Thijsse’s Hof Heemtuin to make the visitor centre and instruction room more sustainable
  • Stichting Jong Bennebroek to make the association building De Spelonk more sustainable
  • IVN Zuid-Kennemerland for materials to make the nature podcast Tierelier
  • National Park Zuid-Kennemerland for an experience activity with grab stick and bingo card and a stuffed Scottish Highlander
• Katwijk
  • Katwijk Sea Scouts to make clubhouse Parnassia self-sufficient
  • Water sports association Skuytevaert to make the clubhouse energy-neutral
• Noordwijk
  • Veldzicht Regional Museum to make the buildings more sustainable
  • Outdoor4disabled to convert the Strandrups (beach tracked vehicle) for use with blue diesel instead of ordinary diesel
  • Fluks Korfbal to make the clubhouse more sustainable
  • Stichting KunstKlank Noordwijk for a musical theatre production on the beach
  • Bollenstreekomroep for two electric scooters for reporters
  • Brobos Scouts to make the clubhouse more sustainable
  • Norvicus Scouts to make the clubhouse energy-neutral and gas-free
• Zandvoort
  • Zandvoort Lifesaving Team for two electric bikes for patrolsKNRM Zandvoort for the installation of solar panels on the boathouse
  • Zandvoort Water Sport Association to make the clubhouse more sustainable
  • Zandvoort Allotment Gardeners Association for planting sedum plants on the canteen roof
  • Naaldenveld Scouts for solar panels on the roof of the sanitary building of the scout campsite Het Naaldenveld
  • Juttersgeluk Foundation for an electric beachcomber bus

About windfarm Eneco Luchterduinen 
Windfarm Eneco Luchterduinen is located 23 kilometres off the coast at Noordwijk and Zandvoort. The wind farm has been supplying green power since 2015 and consists of 43 wind turbines, together accounting for an amount of green power comparable to the consumption of 150,000 households.

In addition to the survival, growth and presence of oyster larvae, the researchers from The Rich North Sea and Eurofins AquaSense also investigated biodiversity. For this they used E-DNA traces in the water and an underwater camera. The underwater videos show lots of life around the rock substrate and foundations of the wind turbines. A total of 65 animal species were recognized with the video footage and another 24 species groups were found from the analysis. Our results show that the composition and development of species is still forming and emerging in the young wind farm. This summer, the researchers will return for the next monitoring activity. We hope to see that the first oysters have settled on the shell layer and rock formations around the wind turbine.

Photo: ‘Common starfish’ by Joost van Uffelen

The images in the following video give you a selection of the animal species that are present in the Borssele wind farm

During the night the buffer tanks arrived in Schiedam. From the motorway exit to the construction site of the heat station, the transport had to move at walking pace in some places. After arrival, the buffer tanks were hoisted into place in the future heat station with two cranes. In the coming period, the walls of the building will be erected around the buffer tanks.

Efficient use of heat
The buffer tanks are an important part of the heat station in terms of using the heat as efficiently as possible. Hot water is stored in the tanks at times when there is a lower demand for heat. This means that during peaks in heat demand, for example in the morning or early evening, heat is readily available and no additional heat production is required. The buffer tanks also provide reserve capacity, so that heat is always available. This means that the heat supply in Groenoord will be efficient and stable.

For more information (in Dutch), please visit  www.eneco.nl/warmtevoorgroenoord

Roeland Ris, Project Director Van Oord said: “After an extensive period of preparations, it's great to now actually see the outlines of the offshore wind farm. Thanks to the project team and all partners involved who worked with great efforts and enthusiasm on reaching this important milestone to have all monopiles in place. With the supply of secondary steel and inter array cables on target and our offshore installation vessels fully operational, the construction of the Hollandse Kust Noord offshore wind farm is progressing well on schedule.”

Wybren de Vries, Balance of Plant Package Manager at CrossWind said: “The installation of the monopiles was an immense operation, with the monopiles weighing between 788 tons and 960 tons each. During the installation works CrossWind and Van Oord promoted and maintained an open culture, in which we acted as one team. I am convinced that this approach defined a big part of our success in reaching this milestone in a safe and timely manner.”

Van Oord installed all 70 monopiles in a short period of time despite strong wind and cold weather. As a Balance of Plant contractor of CrossWind, Van Oord activities encompass the design, engineering, procurement, construction and installation of the wind turbine foundations. Van Oord engaged DEME to deploy the jack-up vessel Innovation to install the monopiles.

Van Oord is also involved in the design, engineering, procurement and installation of the inter array cables, as well as the transport and installation of the wind turbines themselves. Meanwhile Van Oord’s offshore installation vessel MPI Resolution is installing secondary steel to complete the foundations. The secondary steel sets consist of boat landings, main access platforms (with davit cranes) and internal platforms. The platforms will be used for maintenance activities once the wind farm is operational. Van Oord will deploy cable-laying vessel Nexus to install the cables starting in March this year.

For more information: www.crosswindhkn.nl 

The work area has recently been returned to its original state. From now on, recreational visitors can once again make full use of the sports beach on Maasvlakte 2. They can use parking areas P5 and P6 again, from where they can enjoy a long walk along the beach or go wind surfing. However, kiting and kitesurfing will not be allowed.

Testing wind turbines
The construction of the wind farm is entering its final phase. The wind turbines will be subjected to a full range of tests over the next months to ensure that they function properly under all circumstances. In the first months of the new year, work in the vicinity of the turbines will continue at the beach and on the dike. A special aerial work platform will be used to carry out work on the turbines at the beach. Naturally, precautions will be taken to ensure the safety of both employees and recreational visitors during these activities. 

Green power
Also during the testing phase, the power generated by the wind turbines will be fed into the electricity grid. When the testing phase is completed and the wind farm will be put into full operation, it will be generating 416 GWh of sustainable electricity per year. Rijkswaterstaat will be using this green electricity to power the entire Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management. Not only the office buildings, but also things such as street lighting and the operation of bridges and pumping stations will be powered by wind energy generated at the Maasvlakte.

Fusebox is an Estonian green tech company with a mission to enable a sustainable and affordable energy transition. Their core business is providing ancillary services such as demand response to business customers through fully automated Software as a Service (SaaS). It’s becoming increasingly important to balance consumption and generation as weather-dependent solar and wind power production grows. Fusebox’s software helps provide flexibility to the electric grid by actively controlling electrical appliances and energy storage systems for business customers. Fusebox’s software helps to avoid peak price hours, reduce CO₂ emissions, and earn passive revenue by providing  their “flexibility” to the grid.

The software is already used by such segments as batteries, industrial sites, cold storage warehouses, EV chargers, commercial buildings, water treatment plants, heating systems, and renewables. Fusebox is actively trading in Estonia, Lithuania, and Finland with the aim set at entering the Nordic markets.

"We are very proud of our latest investment in Fusebox,” says Robert Blom, Investment Director at Eneco Ventures. “We are impressed by what this company achieved and are excited to help them enter Eneco’s core markets. Demand response is a key tool to avoid grid congestion and allow for the adoption of renewable energy generation. Fusebox will therefore help us achieve the goals we set out in our One Planet ambition to be climate neutral by 2035.”

“We are thrilled to onboard Eneco as the mission and vision of our companies about a greener future coincide,” mentioned Tarvo Õng, the founder and CEO of Fusebox. “The plan is to use the investment and the new cooperation opportunity to grow our team and also to enter the Western European market as a white-label SaaS solution.”

Circular in 2050
In its One Planet Plan, Eneco states that by 2050 it will be a circular company. This ambition is in line with the Dutch government programme that aims for the economy of the Netherlands to be fully circular by 2050. This means that by 2050, the Netherlands will have a waste-free economy that will be running on sustainable and renewable materials where possible and in which products and raw materials are being reused. 

In the case of wind farms, the first step is to investigate whether a wind turbine can still be sold in order to extend its lifespan. If that is not an option, important parts are reused. However, turbine blades are still a challenge at the moment because of the composites that the blades are made of. Even so, developments are taking place in this area that are also being implemented by Eneco, of which Landtong Rozenburg is a recent example. The installation at the Dutch Design Week is an illustration of how to look at the form and function of wind turbine blades from a different perspective while retaining the added value by repurposing. This solution path leads to lower CO₂ emissions than recycling and the life of the blade is extended.

Dutch Design Week
At the Dutch Design Week, young and established artists use creative ways to express their ideas on matters such as furniture, construction, cities, food, health care, energy saving and social interaction. For many years now, sustainability has been the central theme for these designers during this week. There is a high level of concern about the climate, biodiversity and material use (including circularity), for which various solutions are being proposed during DDW.

In a new investment round Gradyent has raised 10 million euros from existing investors Capricorn Partners, ENERGIIQ and new investors Helen Ventures and Eneco.

Gradyent enables heating companies to optimize their systems and reduce CO₂ so that they can deliver affordable and reliable heat. Gradyent, founded in 2019 and based in Rotterdam, has developed software based on the Digital Twin technology. A digital copy of the physical heat system is made, combining geographical, weather and sensor data with physical models and AI. The Digital Twin makes it possible to optimize the heating system in real-time and to run simulations of future situations. This is becoming increasingly important with an increase in more sustainable heat.

"Eneco is pleased with the investment in Gradyent. The acceleration of sustainable heat is one of the important pillars of our One Planet ambition to be climate neutral by 2035, together with our customers. Eneco has been a customer of Gradyent for a long time and wants to further deepen the relationship with this investment and continue to share knowledge with a unique and leading technology company in the field of heating systems,” says Robert Blom, Investment Director Eneco Ventures.

Read the entire press release by Gradyent here.

More than 120,000 homeowners have participated in the collective purchasing campaigns organised by Winst uit je woning in over 100 municipalities. In 2021, the company won the Golden FD Gazellen award, being the number 1 fastest growing company in the Netherlands. Winst uit je woning has been successful since 2010. Its unique selling point is that they not only save homeowners a lot of work, but even more so the installers by taking care of the complete sales funnel. This enables installers (network of more than 350 installers) to do what they do best and get the job done in the most efficient way.

The company is now entering its next phase: expanding its existing business model from municipalities to the commercial sector by offering a white label proposition to, for example, banks, housing associations and utilities such as Eneco.

Winst uit je woning and Eneco
Winst uit je woning contributes to Eneco’s goal of providing complete sustainable home solutions to its customers and doing this in the most efficient way. This cooperation is a great fit for Eneco as the energy transition is being driven by a mix of private, public and public-private partnerships.

Joris de Groot, Director B2C at Eneco: “We are very pleased with the investment in Winst uit je woning. It makes a valuable contribution towards achieving our One Planet Plan, as it enables our clients to make their homes more sustainable in an easy and cost effective way.”

Lieven Andringa, Co-Founder and Managing Director at Winst uit je woning: “The collaboration with Eneco accelerates the energy transition in the Netherlands. We are proud to have Eneco Ventures as an investor and look forward to exploring commercial collaboration opportunities.”

The warehouse in Veghel has a rooffloor area of 31,000 m². This makes the building owned by abrdn a perfect spot for generating solar energy. In close cooperation, Goossens, abrdn and Eneco have investigated the best way to position the solar panels so as to generate sufficient sustainable energy for the location. Seeing that the annual energy consumption is around 1,300,000 kWh, the 2,287,000 kWh that will be generated will be enough to also make other Goossens locations energy neutral.

“As the third generation within our family business, I consider this to be an opportunity to actually implement our sustainable business strategy: in the furniture we supply and the way in which our business processes are set up. This is why we have entered into a partnership with Eneco for the installation and operation of a solar power installation that allows us to conduct our business using  carbon-neutral solar energy from now on”, says Bart Goossens, managing director Goossens.

The duration of the collaboration agreement between the three partners is 20 years. During this period, Eneco will be in charge of all the management and maintenance aspects of the solar power installation.

The construction of Weert Wind Farm took a year to complete. Energy cooperative WeertEnergie and energy company Eneco opted for a cooperative approach in the development of the wind farm. Not only were stakeholders in the immediate vicinity closely involved in the development of the plans, the starting point was also that the local community would benefit. On top of that, as many local and regional companies as possible were involved in the construction.

Gries Hej Windfonds community fund
In connection with the cooperative approach, the Gries Hej Windfonds community fund was established. It is expected that the wind farm will make some € 30,000.- per year available from the generated energy. These resources can be used to finance socially-conscious projects in the vicinity of the wind farm up to a distance of 3 kilometres from the middle wind turbine. A Foundation Board consisting of representatives from the different villages has been appointed to coordinate this and together decide which projects will receive a contribution from the fund. 

Eneco is pleased with the completion of the wind farm and the way in which collaboration was organised. Eneco Solar and Wind director Cees de Haan: “Global warming must be kept below 1.5 °C if we want to pass on a habitable planet to future generations. This is why Eneco is striving to be climate neutral as early as 2035 and investing in the production of more solar and wind power. We aim to do this in collaboration with others, taking into account everyone’s interests and the interest of society. In the case of Weert Wind Farm, this has all come together wonderfully.”

Chairman of WeertEnergie Kees de Korver: “We believe that investing in locally generated renewable energy now is important for our future. We do not want to do this on our own, but in consultation with and with the involvement of the local community. We are very proud that this wind farm allows us to contribute significantly to achieving the sustainability objective of the municipality of Weert."

Mayor of the municipality of Weert Raymond Vlecken: “The municipality of Weert is striving to become more sustainable and contribute to the energy transition. The current energy crisis underlines the importance of these topics. But this can only be achieved with the support of our residents and by properly integrating sustainable energy sources into our landscape. Together with Eneco and WeertEnergie we have been able to accomplish this by closely involving residents in the immediate vicinity in the development of the wind farm and with the establishment of the Gries Hej Wind fund, through which money flows back to the surrounding area every year.”

Weert Wind Farm
WeertEnergie and Eneco are working together on the development of Weert Wind Farm based on the shared conviction that we wish to realise sustainable energy in consultation with and with the involvement of the local community. 

From 2025, the Northampton head-quartered brick, block and concrete producer will source 70% of its electricity needs from a solar farm in central England, replacing its current mainstream electricity supply.

This sector-leading investment will provide renewable energy to Forterra’s 17 sites for 15 years, delivering annual carbon savings of 14,000 tonnes, equivalent to the energy usage of 13,500 households.

The electricity will be generated by a new solar power project developed by the global solar energy firm Lightsource bp. Zosia Riesner, Director of Power Markets for Europe, Lightsource bp, said, “Forterra is showing real leadership with this deal, which will drastically reduce the carbon emissions of its operations. It is also an astute move to secure predictable, long-term energy costs at a time of extreme price volatility.”

The PPA between Lightsource bp and Forterra will be facilitated by Eneco, a licensed supplier in the UK. Nigel McManus, Head of Eneco Energy Trade UK said, “Eneco is delighted to use its trading capability to help bring a new renewable asset to market”.

Stephen Harrison, Forterra’s Chief Executive, said, “This agreement will provide us with price security and stability alongside the clear sustainability benefits.

“It sees us make tangible progress in the race to net zero. Rather than relying on green energy generated by others, we are actually investing in a dedicated source of renewable energy generation, helping to decarbonise the grid, something that is critical to the UK’s net zero journey. We also aim to generate another 10% of our electricity requirement from our own on-site solar and wind renewables by 2025.

“Overall, we have implemented ambitious ESG targets. Between 2010-19 we reduced our carbon emissions by 22% and have pledged to reduce them by a further 32% by 2030.”

The investment follows a series of other important measures announced by Forterra as it looks to reduce its carbon footprint, including a reduction in single use plastic used to wrap its products, the use of HVO (bio diesel) fuel to power all its mobile machinery at its Measham facility, the switch to electric and hybrid vehicles in its car fleet and a £21 million investment in its haulage fleet further advancing towards becoming entirely Euro 6 compliant.

Forterra is also currently developing the largest and most efficient brick factory in Europe at its Desford plant in Leicestershire.

The gas that is physically supplied in the Netherlands comes from different sources of gas in different countries. Of the total amount of gas flowing through the pipelines, an average of 15% is Russian. For our customers, we purchase a certain amount of gas through direct contracts with gas suppliers and a portion on the gas market. The origin of the gas we buy on the gas market cannot be traced.

The vast majority (85-90%) of the gas that Eneco purchases through direct contracts is purchased from non-Russian gas suppliers. In 2010, we entered into a long-term contract with Wingas. That contract expires in 2030. At the time, Wingas was a joint venture between Germany's Wintershall and Gazprom. We also have a number of short-term contracts with Gazprom Marketing & Trade, a Gazprom subsidiary based in London. These contracts will expire soon. We will see the existing contracts out, but under the current circumstances we will not be entering into any new contracts with Russian gas suppliers.

Last year we presented our One Planet Plan. Phasing out natural gas is a crucial step towards achieving our climate ambition. This means that we will convert or close our gas-fired power plants and work to make homes and buildings heated with natural gas more sustainable, through home insulation, hybrid and non-hybrid heat pumps and district heating networks. In the current situation, our plans have only become more urgent.

Arieke Boersen joins Eneco from investment company Stecc where she was Strategy & M&A director since 2020. Between 2010 and 2020 she was also active in the energy world, holding various positions at Vattenfall including the role of senior project manager M&A (2013-2020).

Arieke Boersen holds a degree in Economics, and a Master in Corporate Finance, both from the University of Groningen.

The score of 9.0 according to the study underlines Eneco’s course towards the company and its customers being climate neutral by 2035. In order to achieve this, increasing the sustainability of energy continues to be the aim. Eneco’s investment in more sustainable production capacity includes the development of several new wind and solar energy farms. In this way, all consumer customers at Eneco can count on green energy.

Business market
Increasing the sustainability of energy supplied to business customers is also very relevant when it comes to accelerating the energy transition. According to the report, Eneco’s score on the business market is 5.5, which is more than a full point higher compared with last year. Making the business market more sustainable requires more time given the large size of this market and because part of the business market still prefers grey electricity. Step by step, we are working towards the goal of supplying all business customers with only green electricity by 2030 at the latest and to stop selling grey electricity.

Sustainability ranking
The publication of the electricity suppliers ranking by the NGO’s makes the extent of the sustainability of energy companies transparent. However, the underlying methodology that is used for the ranking allocates relatively little weight to investments in sustainable production capacity. As a result, suppliers can attain the maximum score and head the ranking without having invested a single euro in solar panels or wind turbines. This does not do justice to suppliers who do invest in renewable capacity on a large scale, but at the same time still have to use a gas-fired power plant to ensure that there is back-up capacity when there is no wind or when the sun isn’t shining. Eneco calls on the NGOs to improve the methodology in this area so that the ranking will provide even better insight in the coming years into which suppliers contribute to the acceleration of the energy transition.

The environment, labour and human rights, ethics and sustainable procurement policy are central themes in EcoVadis’ rating. A wide range of operational aspects of organisations and their impact on these themes are taken into account. Eneco also recognises the importance of this and aims to make well-founded decisions in the area of corporate social responsibilty and sustainable business operations in particular. The renewed Platinum rating in 2021 stimulates us to continue on this path.

EcoVadis
EcoVadis is an international organisation that rates companies based on their performance in the area of sustainable business operations and corporate social responsibilty (CSR). The ratings allow companies and organisations to compare suppliers in terms of sustainability, environment and social and ethical work practices. EcoVadis’ rating process uses international CSR standards such as the Global Reporting Initiative, United Nations Global Compact and ISO 26000. 

This week the Energy Hub will reach a new milestone: Uniper is making it possible for a station to be built on the site for the transfer of residual heat from the port of Rotterdam. This heat will be transported to The Hague by Gasunie's WarmtelinQ distribution network.

Even more sustainable residual heat in the heat network
In addition to the use of the residual heat that is the by-product of Uniper’s electricity production process, in a few years' time residual heat from the port of Rotterdam can also be fed into the heat network in The Hague. The step that is now being taken by Uniper ensures that the residual heat will be fed into Eneco's heat network in a reliable manner. The residual heat generated by Uniper is already being used in this heat network.

Security of a warm home
The residual heat generated by Uniper guarantees the continued supply of heat to households that are connected to Eneco's heat network. At what point in time the heat transfer station will actually be put into operation depends on when the WarmtelinQ connection will be completed.

Carbon neutral
The addition of more residual heat is a logical step for Uniper and Eneco. Both companies already announced at an earlier stage their ambition to be operating on a carbon-neutral basis by 2035. This new development is a good step in that direction.

The plea outlines the (policy) decisions that need to be taken in the next two years to keep the Netherlands on the 1.50C emission path.

Eneco is the initiator of the plea and together with the NVDE it has led the formation of the Climate Coalition. Eneco is taking a stand because urgent decisions are needed to keep the Netherlands on the 1.50C emission path. The policy decisions presented in the plea contribute to the realisation of Eneco's climate ambition. Moreover, it shows in concrete terms how the Netherlands can meet the requirements that will be discussed at the international climate summit in Glasgow in the next two weeks.

Read the full plea here (in Dutch).

Due to morphological changes the export cable burial was over the last few years decreasing in depth within the nearshore section. To guarantee the cable will at all times remain sufficiently buried and thus protected, a reburial campaign was requested by Eneco.

Since the section of decreased burial depth was located in the nearshore zone, it was not accessible with typical offshore trenching vehicles nor could it be easily accessed from the beach. Jan De Nul offered Eneco the solution by mobilizing its intertidal trencher Sunfish.

Eneco Luchterduinen

The Eneco Luchterduinen Wind Farm is located in the Dutch sector of the North Sea, approximately 23 kilometres off the coast near Noordwijk. 43 Vestas V112 offshore wind turbines produce a combined capacity of 129 MW. From the Offshore High Voltage Station (OHVS) one 150 kV export cable of 25 kilometres directs the current to the shore.

Please read the full press release by Jan de Nul here

The party visited the onshore windfarm Nieuwe Waterweg, which included a tour inside one of the towers. The second part of the visit took place at Eneco Headquarters in Rotterdam, where they also met with Eneco’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. As Tempelman.

Tempelman says: ”We were delighted to welcome the Japanese Ambassador, Mr. Hidehisa Horinouchi, his wife Mrs. Horinouchi and Mr. Kikkawa. We have always maintained good en fruitful relations with Japanese companies. Naturally, these ties were strengthened when Mitsubishi Corporation and Chubu Electric Power became our esteemed Japanese shareholders. The visit of the Ambassador underlines the value of these bonds.”

The characteristic Uniper energy plant situated at the De Constant Rebeque square has been producing electricity for The Hague and the surrounding region for decades and recaptures the residual heat from this process. This renewable heat is used by Eneco for the supply of heat to some 38,000 households in The Hague and the surrounding region. This new contract guarantees the continued supply of heat during the step-by-step improvement of the sustainability of the heat network in The Hague.

The facility at the De Constant Rebeque square will be able to operate as an energy hub where proven and new technologies are brought together. Examples include the heat provided by the WarmteLinQ heat distribution network and geothermal energy. This could also stimulate the potential growth of the demand for heat in The Hague and the surrounding region.

Carbon neutral
At an earlier stage, Uniper and Eneco separately already announced their intention to be operating on a carbon-neutral basis by 2035. This ambition is another factor that brings the parties together. A clear commitment to work together on improving the sustainability of the heat supply has been formalised in a Letter of Intent. To achieve this, both organisations are exploring the possibilities for the use of more sustainable means of production, including hydrogen, green gas and geothermal energy.

Supply of heat guaranteed
Apart from the step-by-step addition of more sustainable sources, for the time being the Uniper plant will continue to be important for the security of supply. This is because, given the current state of technology, connecting and disconnecting sustainable sources usually takes a long time. During peak moments when demand is high, for example between 7 and 9 am, it is often necessary to increase the heat supply at short notice. This type of peak moments can be dealt with due to the flexibility of the installations in Uniper’s plant in The Hague and the company’s expertise in the area of energy dispatch.

The long-term collaboration the companies have now entered into not only stimulates the availability of electricity and heat in The Hague, but also provides a basis to further improve sustainability. This way, we are working on improving the sustainability of the heat supply in The Hague and the surrounding region while also providing the security of a warm home.

On photo from left to right: Sebastien Walth and Pieter van Stratum of Uniper and Paul Hendrix of Eneco

The Ypenburg district situated on the boundary between The Hague and Nootdorp was constructed in the period 1997 - 2000 and has a natural gas-based heat network. At the time, this was an energy-efficient solution that saved a lot of carbon emissions compared with having a central heating boiler in each separate house. Since then, options have become available that make it possible to create a fully carbon-neutral energy supply.

Based on the partnership agreement, the two municipalities, Eneco and the residents concerned will proceed to investigate together which type of sustainable heat source will be a viable option for Ypenburg’s heat network. When this source has been identified, work will start to make it available and link it to the heat network.

Frank Lentz, chair HWY: “This partnership crosses the boundaries between the city and the region as a whole and brings the stakeholders together. This results in consolidation, a wider perspective and surprisingly good solutions.”

Liesbeth van Tongeren, Councillor in charge of Sustainability, Environment and Energy Transition in the municipality of The Hague: “This partnership clearly shows that making the switch to a sustainable heat supply can take place in consultation with the residents of a district. We are investigating the best match between the existing infrastructure and the new opportunities and techniques that have developed. Moving towards an energy-neutral heat supply together, that is what we strive for!”

Frank van Kuppeveld, Councillor in charge of Energy Transition in the municipality of Pijnacker-Nootdorp: “Increasing the sustainability of Eneco’s heat network is a very good and necessary step for the municipality of Pijnacker-Nootdorp. Our aim is that the ‘De Venen’ will be one of the first gas-free districts. This will be achieved in consultation with the residents and at costs that will be equal to or lower than the current charges. By working together we can make good progress.”

Manja Thiry, Director Heat at Eneco: “It is fantastic that the local residents’ initiative HWY is interested in switching to a carbon-neutral heat network. Just like the municipalities of The Hague and Pijnacker-Nootdorp, we are happy to contribute to this transition. Together we will succeed even faster in making the heat supply more sustainable.”

Velings comes from AkzoNobel where he worked since 2007, most recently in the position of Managing Director AkzoNobel Marine Coatings Europe. In his prior position of Global Business Director he was responsible for Commercial, Sales Excellence and Key Accounts for the global AkzoNobel organisation. He also held the position of director of AkzoNobel’s B2B retail shop networks in Europe and worked as Managing Director in France and Turkey. His background before 2007 includes positions such as Managing Director and CFO for companies in the membrane technology and plastics sectors in Germany.

Dick: “I am very happy with this switch to Eneco. It is a unique opportunity to combine my experience with and passion for transformation and commerce with Eneco’s ambitious One Planet plan, which is aimed at achieving carbon neutrality in 2035.”

Velings has a degree in Economics and International Management from Maastricht University.

The investment fits well with the continuing development of Eneco’s ventures portfolio. Installion offers promising services that help to accelerate the energy transition, which makes a good fit with Eneco’s One Planet plan, aiming to become carbon-neutral by 2035.

=see the attachment for the full press release=

Eneco is looking forward to contributing to the growth of Energyworx as shareholder. As energy supply and demand is becoming more and more volatile, data management is becoming increasingly important for energy companies. However, in many cases the quality of this data is not sufficient as a basis for making rapid and effective decisions. This is an obstacle for energy companies during the energy transition.

The Energyworx platform enables energy companies such as Eneco to manage the increasing volumes of data and use them to carry out analyses. As a result, insight into supply and demand is more precise and available at shorter intervals, and the quality of predictions improves. This is becoming increasingly important and valuable for energy companies as energy production is more and more weather dependent and, therefore, volatile. This investment is in line with Eneco’s vision of using new techniques for scaling up and optimising the deployment of sustainable energy sources.

About Energyworx
Energyworx is based in the USA and the Netherlands. In recent years, the company has achieved strong growth with its Software as a Service (SaaS) Energy Data Management platform and has proven its ability to transform traditional solutions within the energy sector.

The platform includes several solutions, such as Cloud Meter Data Management and Energy Deal Analytics, that allow energy companies to make better use of their data, thus improving the speed and precision of their predictions and their ability to act on them. This can lead to optimisation of energy production and consumption and better trading results.

Eneco will be joining Energyworx’s Supervisory Board and will support the company’s plans for expansion by means of its international network and expertise. Other companies that have invested in Energyworx in addition to Eneco are SET Ventures, EDP Ventures, ENGIE New Ventures and henQ Ventures.

The high-quality insulation material on the roof of Kingspan Unidek in Gemert is one of the company’s own products and very suitable for mounting solar panels. Based on the size of the complex, it was possible to install 12,979 solar panels that together generate around 4,430 MWh of sustainable solar energy; equivalent to the energy consumption of some 1,300 households.

CO₂ emissions reduction
Kingspan and Eneco have entered into a partnership agreement for a period of 20 years during which the management and maintenance of the solar panels will be carried out by Eneco. The generated solar energy is directly available for use by Kingspan, thus allowing the company to take a major step towards lowering its CO₂ emissions; a reduction of some 2,037 tonnes. This corresponds to the annual CO₂ absorption of around 92,500 trees.

Jos Berkers, financial manager at Kingspan Unidek: “In cooperation with Eneco, we are now able to generate our own solar energy for direct use in our business processes. This is a major step towards increasing the sustainability of our energy supply even further. We are proud of the reduction that we have already achieved, but also intend to take additional steps.”

Recycling
Steps have been taken in the recycling of the wind turbines to process the materials in an even more sustainable manner. Via Business in Wind, some components will be used as spare parts for existing wind turbines all over the globe. Other parts will be disassembled and separated by Jansen Recycling Group. This residual flow will then be processed into raw materials by Circulair Reycling Company (CRC) for new products such as railway sleepers. Through a chemical process, the material left over from the blades is converted into pyro oil, which is used as a raw material for new plastics.

Dismantling wind turbines from the water
Because the wind farm is difficult to reach via land, Eneco commissioned Business in Wind to carry out the project. They arranged for the dismantling of the wind farm to take place entirely from the water; from lifting the blades with a crane to transporting the parts by ship. They were assisted by Koppejan Wind Service with the disassembly of the turbines and by HEBO Maritiemservice B.V. with placing the pontoon in the right position by means of a pusher, a tugboat and a HEBO-Lift. The crane was supplied by crane rental company BKV Kraanverhuur. This is the first time in the Netherlands that Eneco, together with Business in Wind, dismantles a wind farm entirely from the water at this scale.

Hartelkanaal wind farm
Hartelkanaal wind farm used to consist of nine wind turbines in 2003, four of which were already removed in 2016. The five remaining turbines have now also been taken down. At present, there are no plans to replace the wind farm.

The winners can now use the money they have won to implement their sustainable plans. Tennis club association WOC in the municipality of Bloemendaal, for example, will use the €5000 they will receive from the Fund to build a net-zero energy clubhouse and tennis courts. The Kennemerduinen Visitors’ Centre association will receive a contribution of €9,000 for the development of an experience tour for children. Petting farm Dierenhoeve in the municipality of Noordwijk will receive €29,750 for the installation of a solar panel roof. Three of the winners were located in the municipality of Katwijk: the Katwijk sea scout group will receive €24,000 for the realisation of a net-zero energy clubhouse, the Royal Dutch Rescue Society KNRM will receive €12,705 for the installation of solar panels on their boathouse and the Coast Busters association will be spending their €10,000 contribution on the realisation of an air bubble screen for capturing litter in the mouth of the Oude Rijn river.

The film portraying all the winners will be published on www.enecoluchterduinenfonds.nl on 1 June.

Selecting the winners
The aim of the Eneco Luchterduinen Fund is to allow residents of the coastal municipalities Noordwijk, Zandvoort, Bloemendaal and Katwijk to make an active contribution to enhancing sustainability and the way in which people experience this coastal region. Every two years, the fund makes €90,000 available for the initiatives that best contribute to this objective.

Remco Streppel of Eneco: “The final decision of the jury was based on the uniqueness and short-term feasibility of the initiatives. The votes of the public jury also weighed in on the selection of the winners.”

About Eneco Luchterduinen wind farm
Eneco Luchterduinen wind farm, located 23 kilometres off coast at Noordwijk and Zandvoort, is an initiative of Mitsubishi Corporation and Eneco. The wind farm has been operational since 2015 and the amount of green electricity generated by its 43 wind turbines corresponds to the electricity consumption of 150,000 households. This is a reduction of CO₂ emissions by 275,000 tonnes per year. 

All wind and solar parks will run without subsidies. For the 23 wind parks the 20 year EEG (German Renewable Energy Act) scheme ends. The PPAs will secure the further operation of the parks without any further subsidies. This proves that market solutions can be found for Post-EEG windparks. The number of windparks falling out of EEG scheme will rise quickly in the upcoming years. Solar is even more competitive already. The 8 solar parks already deliver electricity without subsidies.

“Today we are sending out a strong signal for our customers and for climate protection: Wind and solar energy from Germany are competitive. The agreed PPAs have a large volume. We are thus showing that the free green electricity market works,” says Enno Wolf, Managing Director of LichtBlick.

Wind energy without subsidies
The wpd subsidiary wpd Strompool GmbH supplies 220 gigawatt hours of electricity annually from 23 onshore wind farms. The PPA agreement secures the continued operation of the farms even following the expiration of their German Renewable Energy Act subsidies after 20 years. The agreement is initially for the years 2022 and 2023 with a two-year extension option. “With this PPA we reach our target to run older wind plants without public subsidies. In that direction energy transition can succeed”, says Carsten Meyer, managing director of wpd Strompool.

Solar energy from eight new parks
LichtBlick will also be purchasing approximately 42 gigawatt hours of electricity per year from eight solar parks run by the Enerparc AG and marketed by the Enerparc subsidiary Sunnic Lighthouse GmbH. The parks were commissioned between 2019 and 2021 with German Renewable Energy Act subsidies. Sunnic will now waive this subsidy initially from 2022 to 2024 in favor of supplying electricity to LichtBlick. “The tailor-made contract, probably unique in its supply structure, shows that it is possible to supply green power in Germany at market conditions,” says Nils Kompe, Senior Originator at Sunnic.

The contractual partner of Strompool and Sunnic is Eneco, the parent company of LichtBlick. Eneco handles energy trade for LichtBlick.

The Supervisory Board would like to express its appreciation for the important part that Hans has played in the transformation of Eneco towards a more digital, data-driven and customer-centric organisation.

The Supervisory Board has begun the process of selecting a new CCO.