Falck Renewables has received approval for the zoning plan and the environmental permit for a wind farm in the province of Guelders in the Netherlands.
The five-turbine project is being developed by Falck Renewables, through its Dutch subsidiary, Falck Renewables Nederland, which owns a 25% stake in the project.
Other partners in the wind farm are local energy cooperative EnergieVoorVier and Dutch utility Eneco.
Residents who are members of the cooperative will be able to invest in the wind farm and directly benefit from the value created through the production of clean energy.
Part of the proceeds of the plant will be allocated to a fund run by a board made up of local residents and representatives of NGOs.
The fund will support environmental initiatives proposed by the local community.
Payments relating to the rights of use for the land will be shared among landowners and local residents.
The granting of the environmental permit is a key step in the permitting process and demonstrates the support of the local community, Falck said.
The decision is in line with the municipality’s aim to become carbon neutral by 2040.
The wind farm could be operational as early as 2025.
Falck Renewables global head of business development and M&A Carmelo Scalone said: “This decision by the municipality of Beuningen is an important milestone in the permitting process.
“This is our first project in the Netherlands and we are very pleased to be collaborating so closely with the community of Beuningen.
“In the same way as we do at all our projects around Europe, we are keen to find ways to put the needs of the local community first.”