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Preparations start for construction of first Dutch offshore wind farm

31 March 2005

ROTTERDAM, Eneco, EIH and ECONCERN have signed a letter of intent for the construction and exploitation of the Princess Amalia Wind Farm. E-Connection has developed this project and obtained the permits. Now the letter of intent has been signed, the preparations for construction can commence. The wind farm is expected to be operational by the end of 2006. The 120 MW offshore wind farm will supply green energy to over 125,000 households

Preparations for construction

Now the letter of intent has been signed, preparation for construction will start in May. The Princess Amalia Wind Farm will be built about 23 kilometers offshore from IJmuiden (in block Princess Amalia Wind Farm of the Dutch continental shelf) and is expected to be operational at the end of 2006. The 60 wind turbines, each with a capacity of 2 MW placed in more than 20 meters of water, will generate enough energy for approximately 125.000 households. With a yearly production of 438 million kWh, 225,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions can be prevented.

Dirk Berkhout, Member of the Board of ECONCERN BV: “We are delighted with the start of Princess Amalia Wind Farm. This is the realisation of the first offshore project out of 12 projects that ECONCERN currently has planned in the Dutch part of the North Sea.”

“This investment is a major step in the expansion of renewable energy production of Eneco. In addition we continue to invest in onshore wind projects,” says Hans ten Berge, member of the board of Eneco.

E-Connection

Offshore Princess Amalia Wind Farm-WP is an initiative of and developed by E-Connection from Bunnik (The Netherlands). E-Connection obtained the permits and exemptions to build and exploit this wind farm in 2002. No objections against these permits and exemptions have been brought forward by third parties. With respect to the realization of the wind farm, E-Connection reached and agreement with EIH and Econcern regarding the transfer of the project including the permits. E-Connection will further develop the prospects for sustainable aquaculture at the offshore windfarm.