Acceleration of energy transition by wind

Filter items

Initiatiefnemer(s):

Flemish Energy Company (VEB)

Thema:

Energie

Domein:

Bouw

Contact:

Flemish Energy Company (VEB)
Tina Van Lierde
T +32 499 56 79 74

PIO
An Schrijvers
T +32 2 553 39 72

Tabs

Uitdaging

The Flemish Energy Company (VEB) wants to launch an innovation project on small and medium-sized wind turbines on public sites and/or buildings with the aim of gaining insight into the economic, technical and licensing aspects for this type of wind turbines, and the barriers that these wind turbines face, with the aim of finding solutions for these barriers and then implementing the wind turbines on a large scale in the short term, possibly via third party financing, to the benefit of both public and private players.

In other words, the project aims to investigate whether and how small and medium-sized wind turbines can contribute to the energy transition to a low carbon Flanders. This is a relevant question and a major challenge because the efficiency of these wind turbines remains limited, especially at certain locations.

Within the Flemish context, small and medium-sized wind turbines (SMWT) are turbines with a capacity of up to 300 kW or a mast height of up to about 50 to 60 metres. SMWT can be a possible alternative at sites where large wind turbines cannot be accommodated, among other reasons because of buildings. SMWT, like solar panels, are a decentralised form of energy production, meaning that the generated energy is produced and consumed locally. Thus, in addition to the wind potential, the consumption profile of the customer is also important. Given its complementarity with solar energy, SMWT can be both an attractive investment and a complement to make the energy consumption of companies, buildings, technical installations and public infrastructure more sustainable.

Moreover, this project aims to develop an off-grid system in contrast to the current 'on-grid' or grid-connected systems. This is innovative and requires various pilots or test set-ups to examine the advantages and disadvantages of off-grid systems in a densely built region such as Flanders. The VEB intends to translate the lessons learned from the different pilots into a framework agreement for similar future energy projects in the public sector.

Voorbereiding

Partners - pilot sites

During the second half of 2018, the VEB found project partners who are interested in small and medium-sized wind turbines (SMWT) and have potentially interesting test sites, such as AWV (Agency for Roads and Traffic), the Water Group, Inagro, and others. These partners have already shown their commitment by means of a letter of intent.

The partners have a variety of sites that qualify for SMWT, but it is not yet fully known whether and to what extent they might be interesting. A well-considered selection still has to be made.

To arrive at a relevant test environment for Flanders (draft up a set of representative test sites), preparatory study work is needed.

A model for SmWT in Flanders

First of all, relevant parameters need to be defined which, when combined, can form a useful framework, model or map for SMWT in Flanders. This model can be drawn up in a conceptual phase based on currently available data. The measuring campaigns and monitoring of the pilot sites can then serve to further refine and update this model.

In addition, feasibility studies should be carried out for the various candidate pilot sites.

Feasibility studies as an intrinsic part of tendering for renewable energy projects

Preparation is an important part of any investment in renewable energy. This is certainly true for wind energy. Flanders is a densely built-up area and wind potential is not present everywhere to a sufficient extent. In addition, wind turbine projects are still sensitive projects among citizens (local residents) or other stakeholders.

These feasibility studies are also a crucial preparation for, and provide the necessary information for (1) the permit application (where the legal framework is not always unambiguous or existing and where one often encounters protests) and later also for (2) the specifications for the tender for the installation of the turbines (what type, what number, maintenance, what cost price, what capacity, etc.).

The feasibility studies also need to be carried out in order to select the right pilot sites and arrive at a relevant mix of test sites, from which we can learn as much as possible with a view to developing a new SMWT model for Flanders and a later upscaling within Flanders.

Tendering study work

This preliminary process (model development and feasibility studies) is the subject of a tender. The aim of this contract is to arrive at a relevant and representative test environment for Flanders, but without already installing the turbines. The latter will be done via other tendering procedures. An additional part of this contract lies in the 'follow-up process'. With this we mean the monitoring of the results, once the various wind turbines are installed and functioning. These results will make it possible to refine the Flemish model or map for SMWT. In the longer term public and private organisations can then use this model to check in a relatively simple way whether they as an organisation have potential for SMWT.

Aanbesteding

1. Tendering for study work

The preliminary phase (development of a model for SMWT and feasibility studies on a number of candidate pilot plants) is the subject of a tender. The aim of this contract is to arrive at a relevant and representative test environment for Flanders, without however having to install the turbines yet. The latter will be done via other tendering procedures. An additional part of this contract lies in the 'follow-up process'. With this we mean the monitoring of the results, once the various wind turbines are installed and functioning. These results will make it possible to refine the Flemish model or map for SMWT. In the long run public and private organisations will be able to use this model to check in a relatively simple way whether their organisation has potential for SMWT.

Publication of tender specifications

VEB published the specifications for these study tasks on e-procurement on 20 March 2019.

Infosession

On 4 April 2019 we gave an information session on this study assignment. The report can be found here and is also available on e-procurement.

err201904_pio_wind_infosessie_bestek_fase_1_en_5.pdf

Publication revised tender specifications

After the information session, the specifications were (slightly) modified and published in modified form on e-procurement on 8 April 2019 together with the report of the information session (questions and answers). An overview of the changes can be found at the front of the document. In the rest of the document they are marked in yellow. The offers were expected by 24 April 2019, 12:00.

errpio_wind_bestek_vomvb_aanpassing_na_infosessie.doc

Offers

Four offers were received. After an evaluation of the offers based on the selection criteria, a regularity check, and an initial evaluation of the written submitted offers, all four candidates were invited for an oral presentation of their offers.

This consultation, scheduled for 6 May 2019, between the candidates and members of the evaluation committee also provided room for negotiation, and possible amendments and oral clarifications to the tender.

Candidates were then invited to submit their final offer (BAFO) by 13 May 2019 at the latest.

Award of contract

The contract was awarded to Witteveen + Bos. The results can be found under 'execution'.

2. Tendering for installation of SMWT

2.1. Inagro

The first pilot site, Inagro, published the specifications on e-procurement on 15 December 2021 to proceed with the installation and commissioning of a medium-sized wind turbine. Deadline was initially 15 February 2022 at 12:00, but this was extended to 29 April 2022.

This is a Simplified Negotiated Procedure with Public Notice (SOMB) for the contracting of works. Selection and award take place in a single step.

Due to a lack of tenders (a.o. because of the negative impact of the Ukraine crisis on the prices of materials and the uncertainty this entails), Inagro decided to go through the permit process first and only after having obtained the permit to re-enter the tender procedure.

2.2. Intercommunale Leiedal - Transfo-site Zwevegem

The specifications for installing and commissioning a medium-sized wind turbine on a second pilot site, i.e. on the Transfo site in Zwevegem at Intercommunale Leiedal, were published by VEB on 1 April 2022 on e-procurement. To obtain all tender documents, please send an e-mail to aankoop-ee@veb.be, quoting reference number EE_21_PRJ0086_01. Deadline is 20 May 2022.

This is a Simplified Negotiated Procedure with Notice (SOMB) for the contracting of works. Questions can be asked in accordance with the modalities in the specifications via the forum on e-procurement. A site visit is foreseen on 5 May 2022.

2.3. Agency for Roads and Traffic - Zelzate-West

At the time of writing (December 2022), the licensing procedure is still ongoing. Provided the permit is granted in the first half of 2023, the tender specifications can be published subsequently. As this is not an obvious location for a medium-sized wind turbine, especially in one of the loops of the Zelzate-West traffic interchange, a market consultation will be organised at the end of January 2023, to gain essential insights from industry that will allow us to come up with realistic tender specifications for the contract.

The report of the market consultation (in slides) of January 24, 2023 is available here:

20230124_piowind_awv_zelzate_market_consultation_report.pdf

We hoped to publish the contract notice in May/June 2023, but unfortunately the building permit is delayed.

Uitvoering

1. Study work - Potential study small and medium-sized wind turbines

Small and medium-sized wind turbines (SMWT) are, like solar panels, a decentralised form of energy production, which means that the energy generated is produced and consumed locally. In addition to the wind potential, the consumption profile of the customer is therefore important.

In order to lower the first step towards a feasibility study and to be able to already perform an initial low-threshold screening of a site's potential, Witteveen+Bos, at the request of PIP and VEB, conducted a study of the potential for SMWT in Flanders. In this study, a spatial and energy analysis was made for both freestanding (non-roofed) and roof-tied SMWT in Flanders.

A spatial and energetic screening for the feasibility of a medium sized wind turbine in Flanders can be consulted on the basis of GIS maps that were prepared within the study. These GIS maps map the wind potential as well as permit-related obstacles for a specific location. For roof-tied wind turbines, a roadmap is available to determine the technical potential.

The economic potential of the investment in a medium-sized wind turbine is made transparent by means of flow charts that test a number of indicators. On the basis of simple questions about electricity consumption, operational hours and the electricity tariff, a first indication is given of the economic potential of a small and medium-sized wind turbine for a specific consumer.

The Witteveen+Bos study can be consulted here.

KMWT_potentieelstudie_zonder_bijlagen.pdf

KMWT_potentieelstudie_bijlagen_1_2.pdf

KMWT_potentieelstudie_bijlagen_3_4.pdf

KMWT_potentieelstudie_bijlagen_5_6_7.pdf

After the realisation of the pilot projects an evaluation of the project results will take place through monitoring. In this way the most important challenges with regard to the realisation of SMWT will be identified on the one hand, and on the other hand solutions will be developed to speed up the process from feasibility to realisation of SMWT in Flanders.

Explanation project at info session at PIO Call 2021

On 11 March 2021, Tina van Lierde (VEB) and Shana Sevrin (Sport Vlaanderen) explained the project and the pilot in Ghent during the information session we organised for PIO Call 2021. The explanation gives an update of the project status.

infosessie_oproep2021_versnellingenergietransitiedoorkleinemiddelgrotewind.pdf