Wadden Sea island gets biggest Dutch solar farm

DutchNews, March 11, 2016

The biggest solar power farm in the Netherlands will formally open on the Wadden Sea island on Ameland next month, broadcaster Nos said on Friday. 

The solar farm has 23,000 panels and will produce enough electricity to supply all 1,700 households on the island. It covers an area of land the size of 12 football pitches and is located near the air field. 

The island’s council wants to become completely self sufficient in electricity by 2020. The solar farm project has three partners, the island council, the Eneco power company and a cooperative backed by the islanders themselves. 

While most are happy about the project and dozens of locals have invested money via the cooperative, there are some dissident voices. For example, bird protection groups say the solar farm has disrupted a breeding ground for birds who like to nest on open ground. 

The Ameland farm will not hold the title for long. Several bigger solar farms are being planned, including one at Delfzijl in northern Groningen.

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