Building foundations for wind turbines in Flevoland - TMC (en) Shape caret-double-left caret-double-right caret-down caret-left caret-right-circle caret-right Shape close dropdown expand more facebook Logo linkedin logo-footer logo-mark logo-mobile mail play search twitter youtube instagram
Menu Close

Building foundations for wind turbines in Flevoland

In the northeast of the Dutch province of Flevoland the construction of 61 new wind turbines will take place, generating a total of 250 megawatts of power, which is enough to supply 400.000 households with green energy. Employeneur Kees-Jens van der Wel is working on the project as a process coordinator for construction company Dura Vermeer.

Employeneur Kees-Jens van der Wel has joined TMC last year. He’s already working on an inspiring and sustainable construction project for wind turbines on land. ‘It gives me a boost to find out what drives people and how to derive maximum benefit from that.’

In the northeast of the Dutch province of Flevoland the construction of 61 new wind turbines will take place, generating a total of 250 megawatts of power, which is enough to supply 400.000 households with green energy. Employeneur Kees-Jens van der Wel (Civil Engineering) is working on the project as a process coordinator for construction company Dura Vermeer. His team is tasked with building the foundations for the 37 wind turbines built on land. “We’re talking about large concrete support structures on which the turbines are placed,” Kees-Jens explains. “We also install the cables and pipes running between the turbines, from the turbines to the transformer houses and on to the facilities of the energy company. All the construction and maintenance roads leading towards the turbines are built by us as well. Finally we manufacture the ‘Crane Hard Stands’, solidifications for the huge cranes used to install the wind turbines. Those locations need to be properly densified or the cranes will sink.”

It gives me a boost to find out what drives people and how to derive maximum benefit from that

As a process coordinator Kees-Jens has many tasks. One is to check whether his client fulfils all the requirements of the contract, such as safety and systems integration. He’s also responsible for the development of the software tool used to collect the project data, which the team has to hand over to the client when the project is finished. Kees-Jens: “It’s a big project, but not overly complicated. It basically comes down to performing the same trick 37 times in a row. But in the process we’re constantly trying to improve ourselves. We’re always searching how we can work smarter and more efficiently, using fewer resources. That’s what makes this project unique.”

Communication skills

Asked about the biggest challenge of his job Kees-Jens mentions the fact that he has to deal with a huge team composed of entirely different people. In order to manage everything well, communication skills come in handy. “On the one hand I have to deal with designers,” says Kees-Jens. “If I ask them for input or proofs, they often deliver fast and with no complaints. At the same time I’m communicating with work planners, executors and surveyors, all the folks doing outdoor construction. They love practical work and don’t want to be bothered with all kinds of administrative burdens. But unfortunately they have to. I train them in those aspects and monitor the process, which demands a totally different dynamic and approach. But it gives me a boost to find out what makes people tick and how to derive maximum benefit from that.”

We’re always searching how we can work smarter and more efficiently, using fewer resources. That’s what makes this project unique.

Although his department has a reputation for staying in their office indoors, Kees-Jens makes it a point to regularly visit the construction site. On the one hand he needs to check whether the work is done properly, but he also wants to keep in touch with the builders. “I want to be visible for the men and women outside. Out there it’s a treasure house of data and progress about what we have conceived inside. It’s the place to be if you want to find out whether what our team has devised actually works.”

The project is still at the beginning stage and will probably take two more years, which Kees-Jens hopes to complete. He is inspired by the project’s sustainable nature. “In my private life I’m also committed to sustainability. Before this job I’ve done several road projects, but they didn’t appeal to me that much. It didn’t have the same sense of purpose as this project does.”

Autonomy and responsibility

Kees-Jens enjoys the collaboration with TMC. This is just his first project, but he expects many more to follow. “I’ve joined TMC because of the autonomy and responsibility you’re given. I missed that at my last employer. I love to help people and TMC gives me the opportunities to do so. If the project I’m working on right now needs more people, I can engage my network to try and match someone. If successful I’ve helped both my contact and the company.”

I’ve joined TMC because of the autonomy and responsibility you’re given.

Because of corona he has not been able to meet many TMC colleagues physically, although there have been several online meetings. “A while ago I was invited to participate in a marketing session. I really loved contributing ideas about marketing strategies. It generated a real sense of company loyalty. I also noticed I immediate connected to my other TMC colleagues.”

Kees-Jens would love to develop himself further as a process manager, preferably in the energy and railway sectors. He is convinced TMC will help him realise his ambition. “The flexibility to work for both client and contractor really appeals to me. I would like to bring those worlds closer together, because I think they can learn a great deal from each other.”

Latest from TMC

Ask your question