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| Afsluitdijk, The Netherlands |
The cabinet
has approved funding totalling 20 million euros for sustainable energy projects
on the Afsluitdijk, the 32-kilometre barrier that closed off the Zuiderzee from
the open sea to create what is now the freshwater IJsselmeer lake.
The dike
will house an innovative osmotic power plant, or ‘blue energy’ plant, which
exploits pressure created when salt water passes through a membrane to mix with
fresh water. Solar panels will also be mounted on the dike.
The
sustainable energy funding comes as part of a renovation package to increase
the safety of the Afsluitdijk, which was completed in 1932. In its present
state the barrier can no longer guarantee protection against high water, the
Infrastructure Ministry says.
The surface
of the dike is to be reinforced along its entire length, and the sluices that
drain excess water from the IJsselmeer into the sea will be given a 200-million
euro overhaul.
The
regional authorities have also investigated opportunities to use the dike for
recreational purposes. The renovation project may also include the construction
of a marina. At present the dike serves as a road link between the west and
north of the country.
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