Dutch Plan Subsidy-Free Offshore Wind Farms from 2026 Onward

With continuous cost reduction, as well as stimulation of innovation and competition, the Dutch government aims at holding the first tender for an offshore wind farm that will not be subsidised in 2026. 

The information emerged as part of the Energy Agenda, issued by the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs, which indicates how the Netherlands can cut CO2 emissions to hardly have any by 2050.

In 2013, 47 parties signed the Energy Agreement, which committed the government to medium and long term goals. The government’s medium term goal states that by 2020 14% of the total energy consumption will be sustainable and increased to almost 16% by 2023. Long term goal concerns 2050, by when the Netherlands is committed to achieving an almost complete climate neutral energy supply.

The Energy Agenda, published on 7 December, describes the goal in 2050 and the route towards it. Companies and local governments need certainty so that they can base their plans on it, the Ministry of Economic Affairs said.

The arrangements and implementation of the Energy Agreement remain in full force. By implementing the agreement, the share of renewable energy is rising sharply: from 4.5% in 2013 to 15.9% in 2023. The successful approach with the new offshore wind tendering system has already led to the a cost reduction of 40%.

Large-scale deployment of offshore wind energy in accordance with the current approach will be continued after 2023. “We are exploring how the successful approach with offshore wind can be applied to rolling out other forms of renewable energy both at sea and on land,” the document states.

Offshore WIND Staff