Onshore wind turbines can deliver the province of Utrecht an emission reduction of 160 kton CO₂-eq per year by 2030. The calculation is based on the RES bids of the Utrecht, Amersfoort and Food Valley energy regions and the technical development of turbines.
What it is
Wind power has been harnessed for centuries. In recent decades its share of the energy mix has grown steadily: costs are falling and innovations raise yields. Wind farms need relatively little space and generate energy at night too; farming can continue around the turbines. Points of attention are reliability (geographic spread absorbs fluctuations) and design: modern turbines account for migratory birds and bats and are sited strategically outside migration routes.
Potential in Utrecht
The total addressable market is based on the RES bids of the three Utrecht RES regions. The plausible scenario assumes about 0.767 TWh of generation per year with 5.6 MW turbines and yields 150 kton CO₂-eq reduction; the ambitious scenario uses the same number of turbines but at 6 MW, reaching 160 kton. The reduction arises because wind power replaces natural-gas power plants.
Co-benefits
Onshore wind needs little space, keeps getting more efficient and cheaper, and causes no emissions or air pollution in use. Land around the turbines remains usable for agriculture, enabling dual land use.
Provincial policy
In the RES bids, wind is an integral part of the energy transition. Local integration, participation and resident input are central. The province encourages local ownership, for instance through energy cooperatives and collectives, and facilitates initiatives to build wind turbines.
In practice
The Utrecht Nature and Environment Federation and REScoopNL support local energy cooperatives that want to install wind turbines. Six wind projects are supported, in the municipalities of Lopik, De Ronde Venen, Vijfheerenlanden, Amersfoort and Bunnik/Zeist.
Frequently asked questions
How much CO₂ can onshore wind save in Utrecht?
According to this assessment, up to 160 kton CO₂-eq per year by 2030 (ambitious scenario), or 150 kton in the plausible scenario, based on the RES bids of the three RES regions.
Does onshore wind take a lot of space?
No, wind turbines need relatively little space and the land around them stays usable for farming; they also generate energy at night.
How are birds and bats taken into account?
Modern turbine designs account for migratory birds and bats and are sited strategically outside migration routes.
Source: Preliminary Climate Solutions Assessment for the province of Utrecht (Drawdown Europe & New Economy, 2021), based on the Project Drawdown methodology. Part of the sector-based climate action plan for the province of Utrecht.