Ecowende installs the first of 52 wind turbines
On 30 May, Ecowende installed the first of 52 Vestas V236-15.0 MW wind
turbines around 53 kilometres off the coast of IJmuiden.
The project aims to combine offshore wind development with ecological innovation
through the use of red turbine blades. A single red-painted blade, in contrast
to the usual grey rotors, will be used to test whether a contrasting colour
improves visibility for birds and reduces collision risks.
Additional measures include bird corridors between the coastline and the
Natura 2000 site De Bruine Bank, with wider turbine spacing to allow seabirds
to pass safely beneath the rotor sweep.
Ecowende will assess the success of the initiative using thermal and daylight
cameras, impact sensors and bird radar systems.
The turbines are being installed through a partnership between Vestas and
Van Oord. Vestas manufactures the turbine components and oversees transport
and pre-assembly, while Van Oord installs them using the
Boreas,
a multipurpose offshore wind turbine installation vessel.
This marks the first installation of its kind for offshore wind development
in the North Sea. Each of the 52 turbines is rated at 15 MW, with the Ecowende
wind farm expected to supply 760 MW to the Dutch electricity grid, supporting
the Netherlands’ transition to renewable energy.