Sparking some chuckles and a bit of concern, Dutch forecaster Remco Verzijlbergh claims Belgium’s wind farms snatch 3% of the Netherlands’ wind energy in the North Sea.
The quirky accusation, paired with Donald Trump’s recent jab at the United Kingdom’s “unsightly windmills,” hints at a brewing storm over renewable energy.
The Netherlands and Belgium, North Sea neighbours, lean heavily on wind to meet bold carbon-neutral goals.
Wind farms generate 29% of the Netherlands’ electricity, while 15.1% of Belgium’s North Sea zone is reserved for turbines.
Yet, as turbines multiply, tensions grow, with Donald Trump’s call to ditch windmills for oil drilling adding fuel to the fire.
As it turns out, renewable energy, like fossil fuels, can spark fierce competition.
Wind’s Finite Nature Exposed
Wind isn’t an endless well. Remco Verzijlbergh notes that turbines slow wind speeds behind them, reducing output for downwind farms.
Belgium’s southwest-positioned turbines intercept up to 3% of the Netherlands’ wind, a small but telling loss.
As North Sea wind farms grow, this “wind theft” could worsen, echoing past struggles over coal and oil.
This issue stretches beyond Europe. In water-scarce regions, renewable projects like green hydrogen schemes drain vital resources, leaving locals in need.
Green hydrogen projects consume vast amounts of water annually, worsening drought in areas warming rapidly.
Such patterns suggest renewables, if mismanaged, can strain local ecosystems much like fossil fuels did.
Competition Breeds Inefficiency
Green hydrogen projects, built for European markets, often mirror old colonial patterns, exporting clean energy while locals burn dirty fuels.
In some regions, gas flows to Europe amid local power cuts, forcing citizens to rely on polluting fuels.
These cases show renewable energy, when poorly planned, can repeat the inequities of past energy eras.
Today, Donald Trump's attack on the UK's windmills, calling them "costly and unsightly," pushes a fossil fuel agenda but point to the same issue.
The UK, generating 30% of its electricity from wind, faces high costs and supply chain woes. Europe’s wind sector struggles with market fragmentation and negative electricity prices, which hurt new projects’ financial viability.
Efficiency Trumps Expansion
Focusing on expansion alone risks failure.
Europe must triple wind capacity to meet COP28 targets, yet only 117 gigawatts were installed globally in 2024. That’s far below the needed 320 gigawatts annually.
Ramón Fiestas, a wind energy expert, stresses investing in grids and storage to handle variable wind output, ensuring every gust counts.
Electrification offers a smarter path. Industries like steel and chemicals can switch to wind-powered heat pumps, cutting waste.
Schneider Electric predicts data centres will demand 150 terawatt-hours by 2030, a chance to pair wind with high-efficiency tech.
Global Lessons in Resource Use
Again, the rush for renewables often overlooks local needs.
In water-stressed regions, green hydrogen projects pull resources away from communities already grappling with shortages.
This mirrors Europe’s wind challenges, where poor coordination leads to losses, as seen in the Netherlands-Belgium spat. Better planning could ensure resources serve locals first, not just distant markets.
As for Donald Trump’s push for North Sea oil over windmills, it ignores the bigger picture.
While wind faces hurdles, like high costs and grid delays, efficiency measures can address these.
The UK's wind sector, despite setbacks, powers homes and industries, proving renewables' worth when used wisely.
Opponents Push Boundless Renewables
Dismissing efficiency concerns, some assume that renewables are limitless.
James Alexander of the UK Sustainable Investment and Finance Association insists renewables are cheaper than fossil fuels, urging more turbines. Alexander believes wind and solar can scale endlessly to meet all energy needs.
Yet this view ignores physical limits. Wind farms, as Verzijlbergh notes, reduce available wind, and scaling up demands land and resources, often at local expense.
Water-intensive hydrogen projects show renewables can strain scarce resources.
Efficiency, not blind expansion, can ensure sustainable gains.
A Call for Smarter Energy Use
To avoid a renewables crisis, Europe must prioritise energy efficiency and local needs.
Community Land Trusts can empower locals to manage resources, ensuring wind and solar serve nearby towns first.
Governments should reform markets to reward storage and grid upgrades, as Fiestas suggests, and coordinate turbine placement to minimise losses, as Verzijlbergh urges.
Practical steps make a difference. Belgium and the Netherlands could share wind data to optimise turbine sites.
Some regions could redirect green hydrogen output to local grids, easing shortages.
And the UK, despite Donald Trump’s barbs, should double down on electrifying industries, cutting waste and boosting wind’s value.
Efficiency as the True Renewable
Wind power’s promise lies not in endless supply but in wise use.
As turbines crowd the North Sea, efficiency must guide policy.
Belgium’s “stolen” breezes and water-stressed hydrogen plants warn us: renewables, mishandled, can spark new conflicts.
By investing in grids, storage, and local needs, Europe can harness wind power without falling foul of history’s energy traps.
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