L2-FA-1 platform

An important step to achieve the renewable energy targets in the Netherlands is working towards 70GW offshore wind energy by 2050. The Offshore Wind Energy Act gives the government the option of issuing lots for the development of offshore wind farms. In line with these policy intentions to arrive at 11 GW from the first roadmap for offshore wind energy, lots will be issued in the wind energy area “Ten noorden van de Waddeneilanden” (TNW) and “Doordewind”.

The commissioning of wind farms within these plots, as described in the Roadmap 2030, meets the objective of the Energy Agreement for offshore wind energy, a portfolio of 21.5 GW by 2030.

To gain more knowledge about the meteorological conditions for the future offshore wind farms, the Dutch Government has set up a network of measurement campaigns at strategic locations in the designated areas aiming at collecting and determining the wind conditions. This helps developers to make accurate offshore wind farm business cases. So far, there are three running campaigns within the Wind@Sea – measurement program funded by the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy these are LiDAR measurements at Lichteiland Goeree (LEG), Europlatform (EPL) and K13-a. An additional location will be added which is L2-FA-1 (Ten noorden van de Wadden).

The L2-FA-1 offshore platform owned by NAM B.V. is located north of the Waddeneilanden, 80 kilometres from the coast. The platform serves as a production platform for natural gas.

Location L2-FA-1 platform, coördinates: 53° 57′ 38”N – 4° 29′ 46”E

In order to be able to carry out wind speed measurements, a ZephIR 300M has been installed which can measure up to 220 meters above sea level.
The laser beam is eye-safe according to IEC EN 60825-1, January 2008.