Novar and public energy and waste company HVC are working at the Westermeerdijk high-voltage substation in Espel to connect two nearby solar parks to TenneT’s high-voltage grid. This connection is referred to as the NoordWest Zon Grid Connection (NNWZ).
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Since 2019, Novar and HVC have been jointly developing the NoordWest Zon grid connection in the Noordoostpolder.
The municipality has designated the area between and directly next to the wind turbines along the Zuidermeerdijk, Westermeerdijk, and Noordermeerdijk for solar energy generation. These plots of land are fragmented and therefore less viable for agricultural use.
Since 2017, developers HVC, Ampyr Solar Europe, and Novar have been working with the government and local entrepreneurs to develop three of the largest solar parks in the Netherlands. The solar parks are being built beneath and next to the wind turbines along the Westermeerdijk and Noordermeerdijk, with a combined capacity of about 373 MW, enough to provide electricity for more than 135,000 households.
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The design is complete and the permits have been secured. Construction of the NoordWest Zon grid connection began in 2024.
Latest update: 14 October 2024
Solar Park Noordermeerdijk has a capacity of approximately 98 MW and is being developed on behalf of the public energy and waste company HVC. Solar Park Westermeerdijk has a capacity of approximately 180 MW and is being developed on behalf of Novar.
The solar parks developed by HVC and Novar will be connected to TenneT’s high-voltage substation (Westermeerdijk) in Espel via a newly constructed station. This new station, NoordWest Zon Grid Connection (NNWZ), is being built south of the existing Westermeerdijk high-voltage substation. The NNWZ grid station serves as the link between TenneT’s 110 kV high-voltage network and the 33 kV medium-voltage level. The NNWZ site will include a switchyard, a transformer cell, and a switchgear building. The 110 kV cable connection will be connected at the switchyard and linked to the high-voltage substation. Adjacent to the transformer cell, the switchgear building will be located, where the cables from the solar parks will enter.
The third solar park, developed by Ampyr Solar Europe, will have its own medium-voltage substation. Ampyr is building this station directly adjacent to the NNWZ site, and it will also be connected to the high-voltage substation. This solar park, located along the Noordermeerdijk, will have a capacity of approximately 95 MW.
To connect both new stations to the high-voltage substation, TenneT is expanding its existing substation with additional bays. These works are being carried out simultaneously, resulting in a high concentration of cables underground. As a result, extra care and coordination are required for the installation of the new cables from NNWZ and Ampyr.
A wind farm has been developed in the immediate vicinity of the high-voltage substation: Wind Farm Noordoostpolder, which is partly located on land and partly in the water. The wind farm consists of three sub-projects — two on land and one offshore. Three project partners are responsible for the development, construction, and operation of their respective parts of the project: renewable energy company RWE, and local companies NOP Agrowind and Westermeerwind.
The wind farm consists of 86 wind turbines, with 38 located on land and 48 in the water. The onshore turbines are Enercon E-126 models, each with a capacity of 7.5 MW. The offshore turbines are Siemens 3.0DD-108 models, each with a capacity of 3 MW.
The official opening took place on 2 June 2017. This wind farm is also connected to TenneT’s high-voltage substation.
Last edited on 5 June 2025
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