TenneT Launches Tender for 2 GW Offshore Grids in IJmuiden Ver

TenneT has launched a tender for 2 GW offshore platforms and high voltage direct current (HVDC) systems in the IJmuiden Ver wind area in the Dutch North Sea.

The transmission system operator (TSO) expects to award a contract under this tender by the end of 2022.

Recently, the engineering for the land station was tendered and the cable contract will follow later this year, TenneT said.

Earlier this year, the company issued calls for qualification to tender for several segments, including the construction of 2 GW HVDC offshore platforms and 525 kV DC cable supply and installation on the IJmuiden Ver offshore grid projects.

In IJmuiden Ver, TenneT will build two 2 GW offshore grid connections, with the first one planned to be operational in 2028.

The 4 GW IJmuiden Ver is one of three sites identified by the Dutch Offshore Wind Energy Roadmap 2030. The three sites have a combined capacity of 6.1 GW and are expected to help the Netherlands reach the target of 11.5 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2030.

TenneT’s new 2 GW offshore grid standard aims to further reduce the costs of offshore wind and minimise the spatial and environmental impact.

The standard will more than double the capacity in comparison with the previous 900 MW HVDC standard and will prepare TenneT for the planned acceleration of offshore wind deployment in Germany and the Netherlands, according to the TSO.

TenneT introduced plans for the 2 GW offshore grid now almost two years ago and, in early 2020, entered into a partnership with a number of companies to develop the 2 GW, 525 kV HVDC grid connection system for implementation in Germany and the Netherlands.