Installing wind turbines

Can you place wind turbines on your location?

Do you want to start a wind farm (wind park) or install a wind turbine with a capacity of up to 5 megawatts? You must ask your municipal authority if the zoning plan allows for this on your location.

Do you want to start a wind farm with a capacity between 5 and 100 megawatts? Or do you want to expand your wind power plant? Then you must ask the provincial authority if this is allowed at your location. You have to ask your province to establish a provincial zoning plan (inpassingsplan) for wind energy

Do you want to start a wind farm with a capacity of over 100 megawatts? The minister of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy and the minister of Infrastructure and Water Management will establish a national zoning plan (inpassingsplan).

Research the environment

You have to research the effects of wind turbines on the environment. You have to so with an environmental impact assessment (milieueffectrapport, m.e.r.).

Permits for wind turbines

If you are going to install a wind turbine or set up a wind farm, you will build, maybe construct an entry road, fell trees, and you will impact the environment. You will have to apply for an all-in-one permit (in Dutch) for such activities.

If you are going to build a wind farm (3 or more wind turbines) and an MER evaluation duty is in place, you have to apply for an all-in-one Permit for Physical Aspects with limited environmental assessment (omgevingsvergunning beperkte milieutoets, OBM, in Dutch)

Requirements for wind turbines

Wind turbines have to meet certain requirements. They must:

• comply with noise regulations (in Dutch)
• comply with safety rules (in Dutch)
• create as little nuisance as possible for local residents (for example cast shadow, in Dutch)
• fit into the landscape as well as possible
• cause as little damage to flora and fauna (bird migration for instance)
• be safe for air traffic (you must for example make sure to prevent radar disruption, provide obstacle lighting, and keep to height restrictions, all in Dutch)