Climate change is increasing the risk of flooding, both in coastal and delta regions. The Netherlands is a country that lives underwater. For the Dutch, water is a friend and foe; the country’s location boarding the North Sea and being the delta of Europe’s major rivers has brought a lot of prosperity but it has also made the country vulnerable to flooding. This means that more than 1100 kilometers of dyke and 256 locks and pumping stations will need to be reinforced and improved by 2028.

This project will start a new trend in water management and change how we all look at conservation, energy production and storage, and coastal protection methods over the next 10 years.

The project includes the development of an artificial island and lake that will serve as flood protection, allow energy generation and storage, guarantee freshwater for Rotterdam and the surrounding area, and allow the salt tide fish migration between the North Sea and Rhine/Maas.

At the heart of Delta 21 is the Valmeer, a 20 km2 water storage basin, will produce its own electricity from the surplus water of the on-site turbines. To drain the Valmeer in 12 hours requires 93 pumps of 20 MW, this generates electricity as the turbines are energized when the water basin is filled again.