“uåX˜äŠÊ˜·³Ç

Although expectations were high for a record breaking year for wind power in Holland, growth was slow in 1993. Total installed capacity increased from an estimated 106 MW at the beginning of the year to some 131 MW in December, according to Communicatie & Adviesbureau (CEA) in Rotterdam which collects official statistics on wind power in the Netherlands. In early 1993 industry observers were expecting between 36 MW and 70 MW to be installed (“uåX˜äŠÊ˜·³Ç, February 1993). But the failure of utility projects to get off the ground, particularly the 18 MW Kreekrak wind farm and the 15 MW Zeewolde project put paid to those plans. Of the 25 MW installed in 1993 about half was built by utilities, most of it in public-private partnership. The other half was built by private individuals or wind plant co-operatives. Of the 131 MW now operating, 60% is owned by utilities, 20% by public-private partnerships and another 20% by private individuals and co-operatives. This last group has an increasing share of the market. Despite the slow progress in 1993, prospects this year look promising. With a last minute increase in the 1993 budget to NLG 45.5 million, nearly 60 MW of projects were selected for subsidy by the end of the year (“uåX˜äŠÊ˜·³Ç, February 1994). If all these projects are realised -- and if the Kreekrak and Zeewolde wind plants go-ahead -- 1994 could be a year of much greater activity in the Netherlands.