Rachel Carson (Eemmeerdijk) — Netherlands

Rachel Carson (Eemmeerdijk) is a 18 MW wind power plant in Flevoland, Netherlands. Based on reported annual generation of 16 GWh, it can supply roughly 4.6k homes. It ranks #82 of 119 Netherlands power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 1998, it is around 28 years old — long-established. As a non-combustion source, it has no direct CO₂ emissions from generation. In context, wind supplies about 25.0% of Netherlands's electricity; the national grid averages 254 gCO₂/kWh (54.2% low-carbon) (2025).

Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id WRI1005428.

Data provenance

Capacity and fuel are the upstream open-dataset record, not yet matched to a 2026 registry or GEM entry.

capacity: WRI GPPD; fuel: WRI GPPD

In context: how this plant compares

At 18 MW, Rachel Carson (Eemmeerdijk) is well above the median wind plant in Netherlands (9 MW). Wind turbines convert moving air into electricity; output is variable and site-dependent, and modern turbines deliver some of the lowest-cost new generation on many grids.

Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.

Key facts

Load factor

10%, from 16 GWh of reported generation; the median for 15 wind plants in Netherlands that report generation is 29%

Share of Netherlands wind capacity

1.0% of 1,885 MW across 40 plants in this dataset

Age among peers

5 of 40 dated wind plants in Netherlands are older

Calculated from the capacity and generation records in this dataset (WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0)).

Capacity vs largest wind plants in Netherlands

Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).

Local climate & thermal context

This wind plant converts the kinetic energy of wind into electricity through turbine rotors. It sits in a temperate oceanic climate (Köppen Cfb) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 52.3°N — which shapes how much energy it can produce and how its output varies through the year.

Monthly mean temperature

Heating degree-days here run 25% above the median power plant in this dataset — a proxy for how much extra energy heated equipment must replace through its surfaces in winter.

Climate heat-demand index: 65/100 — this site sits in the mid third of the power plants we cover by heating degree-days.

Climate normals: WorldClim 2.1 (1970–2000 monthly normals, 10 arc-min, CC BY 4.0); zone: Köppen-Geiger world climate classification (Kottek et al. 2006, 0.5° grid). Degree-days & heat-demand index computed by PowerAtlas — a modelled heat-demand proxy, not a measured site figure.

Site climate & environmental severity

This site sits in a corrosive environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C4 — High), with humidity / wetness the leading environmental stress.

Indicative estimate via the ISO 9223:2012 informative method (atmospheric corrosivity from temperature, time-of-wetness and airborne salinity), using WorldClim climate normals, the Köppen-Geiger class and coast distance. Indicative, not a measured corrosion rate.

How it compares & nearby plants

The #12 largest wind power plant of 40 in Netherlands by capacity.

Netherlands has 40 wind power plants in this dataset, together about 1,885 MW of capacity.

Nearby power plants

• Irene Vorrink · Wind · 16.8 MW · Flevoland
• Test Site Lelystad · Wind · 8.3 MW · Flevoland
• WKC ALMERE · Gas · 120 MW · Flevoland
• FLEVO · Gas · 999 MW · Flevoland
• Maxima · Gas · 880 MW · Flevoland
• Ede power station · Gas · 68 MW · Gelderland

Location

Coordinates 52.33, 5.5417 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.

Frequently asked questions