Flanders crowns its one hundredth wind turbine
Flanders has crowned its 100th and 101st wind turbine, both Vestas machines. The 2 MW turbines have gone up at Puurs and form part of the Aspiravi wind project, which until now comprised a total of 45 machines. The two latest turbines will generate enough electricity for 2250 homes. Aspiravi evolved after the liberalisation of the electricity market in Flanders in 2002 from four holding companies CREADIV, EFIN, FINEG and NUHMA, the latter being a venture involving 95 Flemish municipalities. The Aspiravi joint venture company is also working in partnership with Electrawinds, SPE and WE-Power (a subsidiary of Belgium's Colruyt), on plans to build a 22.5 MW wind farm in Ieper consisting of nine 2.5 MW turbines. Applications for building and environmental permits are currently being processed. If approved, the partners hope to bring the wind farm online in 2007 to supply enough electricity for 10,100 households. Colruyt, meanwhile, hopes to install a 2 MW machine at its distribution centre in Wallonian Ghilenghien to supply 1000 local homes. Another Belgium project in the pipeline, the Braemland II development in Melsele planned by Nortech bvba, would see three wind turbines produce enough electricity for half of the households in Haasdonk and Melsele. Nortech started the licence procedure in mid-March.