The company kick-started several offshore wind farms in the Netherlands and Belgium, boosting its wind energy capacity up by 202MW
Dutch energy producer Eneco has announced that it will be doubling its solar and wind capacity, bringing it up to 2,500MW within the next 5 years. Specifically, Eneco will boost value from a demand-supply steering model in an energy system that is becoming increasingly complex and decentralised.
Turbines at Eneco’s new offshore wind farm, Borssele III & IV, Credit: Eneco website
Last year, the company boosted its renewable energy capacity by 202MW. A large share of this capacity was supplied by 2 new offshore wind farms in Blauwwind and Seamade, off the Belgium coast. The company also collaborated with Shell on 2 new wind projects: the 760MW Hollandse Kust Noord offshore wind project and the 100MW Maasvlakte 22 onshore wind project, both in the Netherlands. Last year, Eneco also inaugurated a new offshore wind farm called Borssele III & IV, a 731.5MW project located off the Zeeland province of the Netherlands. With these projects, Eneco has confirmed that it is on track with its target to operate more than 2GW renewable energy by the end of 2022.
Eneco CEO, As Tempelman, said: “Despite the high temperatures and a decrease in electricity demand, most notable in the business segment, Eneco delivered strong financial results. Operating profit (EBIT) was up by 23% to €163 million (2019: €132 million) and EBITDA rose to €484 million (2019: €428 million). Net profit increased by no less than 48% to €118 million (2019: €80 million), in part because new wind assets were operational throughout the year and the participating interests performed better.”
Eneco has also been working on a novel project that converts energy produced by wind turbines into hydrogen. This green hydrogen will then be transported to homes via a dedicated pipeline, where it will be used as a source of electricity. Eneco is collaborating with Cooperatie Deltawind and Hygro Energy, research and innovation firms based in the Netherlands to explore these possibilities further. Tempelman stated: “We will… continue to invest in sustainable generation. Our ambition is to nearly double our Eneco-owned capacity to 3200 MW by 2025. In everything that we do, we choose to be a responsible enterprise. We take our role in society very seriously, and we endeavour to have a positive impact on the well-being of people and nature.”
