Energy Excursion: Bezoek aan Windpark Westereems Eemshaven

Long before the invention of electricity, the Dutch have used the power of wind as a source of energy, for example to mill grain. Though most old-fashioned windmills these days are but tourist attractions, the wind is still blowing strongly across the Netherlands. Parks full of wind turbines are now used to harness this continuous source of energy. One such wind park, Westereems can be found in the north of Groningen.

The Westereems wind park contains over 80 wind turbines, with 24 different owners. One of the owners is today’s host Essent, a power supply company and owner of little over 50 of the wind turbines at the Westereems, each one a 3 MW wind turbine. The entire park produces 470 million kWh yearly, providing enough electricity to power over half the households in the entire province of Groningen.

The program will include:

• Bustour Groningen Central Station – Eemshaven – Groningen Central Station
• Presentations Essent and Windpark Westereems
• Visit to windmill Goliath
• Visit to maintenance and monitoring site wind park
• Visit to MW wind turbine