Windmills citizens’ initiative Koningspleij can be built
Zwolle – Prowind reached 25-09-2020 ‘Financial Close’ for Windpark Koningspleij. This gives the green light for the construction of the three windmills of the citizens’ initiative Koningspleij, which will supply electricity to 18 municipalities in the Arnhem region. The initiators of the windmills are the Rijn en IJssel Energiecoöperatie and Prowind BV. After the financial close for the Broekstraat solar farm, this is the first financial close for a wind farm for Prowind in the Netherlands.
Windpark Koningspleij comprises four wind turbines to be installed in a line configuration along the Pleijroute (N325). Three of the four wind turbines are a citizens’ initiative. Inhabitants of Arnhem and the surrounding area can become co-owners of these windmills and thus generate sustainable energy and share in the profits of the park. In addition, the windmills supply electricity to 18 municipalities in the Arnhem region. The fourth windmill of the wind farm will be developed by Pure Energie and will generate power for Industriepark Kleefse Waard (IPKW). Together, the four wind turbines are expected to generate 34 million kilowatt hours (kWh) per year. That is enough energy for more than 11,000 households.
“This wind farm makes an important contribution to the sustainable energy supply of Arnhem,” says Marion Visser, sub-programme manager New Energy made in Arnhem.
Good collaboration
The Financial Close makes it possible for the initiators of Windpark Koningspleij to finance the three wind turbines and the construction work. The Deutsche Anlagen-Leasing GmbH & Co. KG (DAL) is providing the loan for the project. This is the first wind project for DAL in the Netherlands.
“We appreciate Prowind’s approach to involve citizens in investments, because we believe this is a truly sustainable way to achieve the transition to renewable energy. From the very beginning of the cooperation there was a strong focus on finding common solutions. Therefore, we very much appreciate the exceptionally good and professional cooperation between DAL and Prowind”.
Antje Gruber, Senior Project Manager / Infrastructure & Supply at DAL.
The financing was partly achieved with the support of Biesheuvel Jansen advocaten (Inge Timmerman, Rutger Jansen).
The preparations for the construction of the wind farm are currently being made by the initiators and the turbine supplier Enercon. The generated electricity will be purchased by Greenchoice-De Groene Stroomfabriek. The initiators were supported by Source4Energy in concluding the power purchase agreement. Once the park has been realised, Outsmart B.V. will take care of the operational management and the installation responsibility, in order to ensure that the solar park is optimally profitable.
Prowind would like to thank all these parties for the pleasant cooperation. Partly thanks to the work of all our cooperation partners, this wonderful project could come about.
The start of construction of the wind farm is planned for the 1st quarter of 2021 and is estimated to be completed by the end of 2021.
