Afsluitdijk plans approved

Proposals for a 300 MW wind farm along the 32 kilometre Afsluitdijk connecting Friesland and North Holland have been approved by the Friesian Provincial Council, bringing the ambitious plans one step nearer realisation. The scheme was launched last year by utilities NUON and ENW, although a rival project has also been announced by the Ontwikkeling Windpark Afsluitdijk (OWA) consortium which includes the Rotterdam-based utility Eneco (Windpower Monthly, October, 1998). According to press reports, lawyers are investigating whether the project needs to be opened for public tender.