SSE Renewables to Compete in Next Dutch Offshore Wind Tender

UK energy company SSE Renewables plans to enter bids into the upcoming tenders for the 1.4 GW Hollandse Kust (west) wind farm zone in the Netherlands which are set to take place in the first half of 2022.

The Dutch Government has recently issued revised draft Ministerial Orders which included tender assessment criteria for the permits to develop the two individual 700 MW sites within the zone.

The detail of the application process is due to be published shortly and the window for tender submissions is scheduled between 14 April and 12 May 2022, with winners announced in the summer.

The Hollandse Kust (west) wind farm zone is located approximately 53 kilometres off the west coast of the Netherlands in the North Sea. The total surface area of the sites within the zone, including maintenance and safety zones, is approximately 187 km2. The zone will accommodate a minimum of 1.4 GW of fixed bottom offshore wind power capacity. Transmission system operator TenneT will construct two offshore platforms with two grid connections within the zone.

The Dutch government has draft published assessment criteria with half of the scoring based on a one-off financial payment; knowledge and experience; financial standing; and energy yield.

The other half of the scoring is based on innovation. One tender will focus on rewarding ecological innovation, and the other will focus on systems integration innovation.

SSE Renewables said it welcomed this approach and the opportunity to use its ecological and systems integration expertise to develop innovative solutions to current and future challenges, both within the Dutch offshore wind sector and elsewhere.

If successful, the Hollandse Kust (west) projects would form part of SSE Plc’s recently published Net Zero Acceleration Programme, which included fully funded GBP 12.5 billion strategic capital investment plans to 2026 alongside 2031 targets, aligned with 1.5 degree science-based targets, the energy company said.

If SSE Renewables is successful in the tenders, the Hollandse Kust (west) projects are expected to be commissioned in 2025-2026.

”The Netherlands is one of the leading offshore wind markets in Europe,” Dennis Breugelmans, Project Director, International Markets at SSE Renewables, said.

”We welcome the Dutch Government’s ambitious new energy and climate programme and we want to bring our wealth of experience and track record in delivering cutting edge offshore wind projects. This will not only help the country meet its ambitious targets, but together with the local expertise of Dutch companies, we will bring forward innovations to help drive the whole Dutch offshore wind sector forward. The Hollandse Kust West tender will be a great opportunity for us to show what we can do, and we look forward to announcing more about our plans in the coming months.”

NOTE: The original article has been amended.