RWE wind farm Karolinapolder has stood along the Volkerak near Dinteloord since 1998. The wind turbines have functioned well for many years, but are due for replacement after 25 years. In February 2024, RWE started work on the construction of the new Karolinapolder wind farm. The wind farm will have four new wind turbines and will be completed in 2025.
Facts & figures
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(financial) regulations to benefit the environment
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Windpark in operation
More efficient generation of renewable energy
The new modern wind turbines can generate much more renewable electricity per turbine than previous generations of wind turbines. This is mainly due to their greater height (more wind) and larger rotor diameter (more wind catching). To avoid being affected by each other's turbulence because of the larger rotor diameter, the new turbines need to be further apart. So the new wind turbines cannot be placed at the same spot. In addition, the old foundations are not suitable for the more modern larger wind turbines. The old foundations will be removed. The land will become available again.
Construction in phases, ready mid 2025
A second life for the wind turbines
From 17 to 21 February 2024, the four old wind turbines were removed. They have been sold and will be relocated abroad (in this case, within Europe) after refurbishment. The foundations will be removed, after which the land will be available again.
What was in the old wind farm?
The old wind farm consisted of four Vestas 44 wind turbines with a capacity of 0.6 megawatts (MW), a shaft height of 55 metres and a tip height of 77 metres. One turbine blade was about 22 metres long. Together, they had an installed capacity of 2.4 MW and produced enough annually for the consumption of about 1,500 average households. The wind turbines produced renewable electricity for 25 years.
To follow the construction more closely, please go to the Dutch page.