News item | 28-03-2024 | 5:10 PM
Several applications have been submitted in the largest tender round for offshore wind in the Netherlands to date. The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) has received several applications for both permits for the IJmuiden Ver wind energy area (Alpha and Beta plots) on the North Sea. IJmuiden Ver is located more than 60 kilometers off the west coast of the Netherlands. The two wind farms will produce renewable electricity and each have a capacity of at least 2 gigawatts (GW). A total of 4 GW is licensed in one round; accounting for approximately 14% of the total current electricity consumption in the Netherlands.
Minister Jetten (Climate and Energy): “The wind sector is facing international challenges such as recent price increases and high interest rates. I am pleased that despite these developments, several parties have shown interest in building these wind farms in the Netherlands. These wind farms contribute to achieving our climate goals and energy independence.”
Contribution to nature and integration into the energy system
The wind farms are being built without subsidies. The tenders consist of a comparative test with a financial offer. The government wants to encourage wind farms to also contribute to nature in the North Sea and to their integration into the onshore energy system. In addition, criteria regarding international corporate social responsibility and circularity apply to both lots.
Applications are also assessed on, among other things, the certainty that the wind farm will be realized. Most points are awarded to criteria with a social purpose (85% of the total number of points). The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate (EZK) wants to stimulate solution-oriented and innovative applications. The amount that a company is willing to pay for being allowed to build and operate the wind farm also earns points (15% of the total number of points). It is not expected that the parties will offer the maximum requested financial bid. A financial offer is included in the tenders to ensure sufficient variation between applications. The winner is the party with the most points.
Judgement
Interested companies and consortia could submit an application until Thursday, March 28, 5 p.m. RVO assesses the applications in collaboration with two expert committees. The expectation is that the winner(s) of the IJmuiden Ver plots Alpha and Beta tenders will be known in June 2024. The wind farms are expected to supply electricity at the end of 2029 / beginning of 2030.
Connection to land
Grid operator TenneT will install two platforms with two grid connections within the area (so-called ‘offshore sockets’) to connect the wind farms to the Dutch onshore electricity grid. These are the first offshore wind farms in the Netherlands with a direct current connection instead of an alternating current connection. Direct current makes transport over longer distances possible and has the advantage that there is less electricity loss during transport.
Ambitions
In 2022, the government increased the target for offshore wind energy from 11 to approximately 21 GW around 2030. Several areas have been designated for offshore wind farms for this purpose. Together these will supply approximately 75% of the current electricity needs of the Netherlands around 2030.
RVO organizes the application procedure (tenders) for permits for the construction and operation of new offshore wind farms on behalf of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy. A number of offshore wind farms are already in operation, and there are also projects under construction and preparation.
More information about the IImuiden Ver windener area can be found on the rvo.nl website.
Tags: Multiple applications largest wind farms Dutch North Sea News item
