Dutch Investigate Future Offshore Wind Links

Arcadis and Pondera Consult will carry out a strategic study into the various possibilities to transport the energy from future large-scale offshore wind farms in the Dutch North Sea to the national grid.

The two companies will explore various ways of connecting offshore wind farms scheduled to come online by 2030. The study is being conducted on behalf of the Dutch government and in cooperation with TenneT.

It focuses on the assessment of environmental effects, costs, technology, and future-proofing. To this end, the companies will draw up an assessment framework, carry out an impact study, and create a balancing memorandum.

Apart from looking into how the offshore wind farms will connect to the Dutch grid, the study will also examine ways in which the electricity provided can be utilised and stored. The options include powering of the industry along the Dutch coast, conversion to hydrogen, and other ways of power storage.

Earlier this year, the Dutch government issued the Offshore Wind Energy Roadmap 2030 which added 7GW of offshore wind capacity to be developed in three zones in the Dutch North Sea from 2024 to 2030.

Combined with the existing plan to develop 3.5GW capacity by 2023, the Netherlands aims at having 11.5GW of operating offshore wind capacity by 2030.

Arcadis and Pondera Consult have already collaborated with TenneT on an EIA process for the grid connection at the Borssele wind farm zone.