Flemish Environment Minister Jo Brouns (CD&V) is introducing stricter distance rules for large wind turbines. This is reported by the newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws.
For windmills higher than 200 meters, the distance to the first residence must from now on be at least three times the tip height. “Flanders is too small to place such mastodons just anywhere,” Brouns says.
Three times the tip height
Flanders already had rules for wind turbines regarding noise and cast shadow, but unlike other countries, not yet for distance. So now that will soon change. According to Minister Brouns, the large windmills just undermine support for wind energy and the quality of life of citizens must come first.
Brouns is seizing on an example in the Ghent canal zone to introduce distance rules for wind turbines. Engie and Katoen Natie want to build four 266,5-meter windmills there. One of the windmills would be 280 meters from habitation, which is to close, Minister Brouns ruled, the first time he has refused a permit for a wind turbine because the distance from habitation was too small.
So, from now on, for 250-meter windmills, the distance from residential areas must be at least 750 meters. “If this is not the case, I will not permit the project,” Brouns says.
Not enough onshore wind power
The point is that the Flemish government is already struggling with its climate goals, while Europe is just asking for energy sustainability. By 2030, for example 2,800 gigawatts of onshore wind power must be generated, almost 1,000 GW more than the 1,86 GW today.
To do so, about 25 new wind turbines must be added each year in the coming years, but in 2024 barely 12 were built, precisely because each permit is challenged time and again before the Council for Permit Disputes because of its impact on land use planning.
Otherwise, in March the Flemish government decided to reintroduce support for new wind turbines, a measure that had been scrapped by the previous government. The support that Flanders is reintroducing is in the form of green certificates. These are virtual certificates with a certain value in euros that operators of windmills receive for each amount of energy they generate. These certificates are in turn bought by energy suppliers who have a certain quota obligation for renewable energy.
New generation of windmills
Windmills being built today are a lot bigger than those built just 10 years ago. The larger the windmill, the longer the blades and the more electricity the wind turbine can consequently generate. For example, the current generation of wind turbines (tip height 200-250 meters) generates on average 3-4 times more electricity than the first generation of wind turbines (tip height 150 meters).
At higher altitudes, the wind also blows more powerfully and consistently, so higher wind turbines catch more wind. They can also turn more slowly, which is positive for the visual and noise impact for residents.
According to Mieke Schauvliege, Flemish Green floor leader, the new distance rules mean there will be no more windmills in Flanders. “Just find a spot 750 meters away from scattered habitation. Brouns wants permits for industry and defense. But for wind energy he only makes the rules stricter.”
