The Netherlands Sets Tendering Timelines for 13.4 GW of Offshore Wind

The government of the Netherlands has disclosed the tendering timelines and locations for nine offshore wind projects with a combined capacity of up to 13.4 GW.

The projects, ranging from 700 MW to 2 GW in individual capacity, are scheduled to be put out to tender between the second quarter of 2025 and the end of 2027.

There are nine zones in total, eight of which are new and have been identified within the Doordewind, Nederwiek, IJmuiden Ver, and Hollandse Kust (west) zones. One project is within the previously identified Ten noorden van de Waddeneilanden zone.

The new projects include the IJmuiden Ver (noord) V and VI, each with a capacity of 1 GW, the 2 GW Nederwiek (zuid) I, the 2 GW Nederwiek (noord) II, the 2 GW Nederwiek (noord) III, the 700 MW Hollandse Kust (west) VIII, the 2 GW Doordewind I, and the 2 GW Doordewind II.

IJmuiden Ver (noord) V and VI and Nederwiek (zuid) I are scheduled to be auctioned off in the second quarter of 2025. IJmuiden Ver (noord) V and VI are expected to come online in 2029, and Nederwiek (zuid) I a year later.

Nederwiek (noord) II and III are to be auctioned off in 2026 and are scheduled for commissioning in 2030 and 2031, respectively.

Hollandse Kust (west) VIII will be put out to tender in 2026 or 2027. The commissioning deadline for this project has not been disclosed but is expected to be after 2031. The 700 MW Ten noorden van de Waddeneilanden I will also be auctioned off in 2026 or 2027. This project is scheduled to be commissioned in 2031.

Doordewind I and II will be put up for auction in 2027, with the commissioning set for 2031.

The tendering dates for the projects scheduled to be auctioned off post-2025 are indicative and the final decision on the timelines is expected to be made in 2024.

The Netherlands aims to have 21 GW of operating offshore wind capacity by 2030, corresponding to around 75 per cent of the country’s current electricity consumption. 10.7 GW of that capacity will come from these newly identified zones.

The construction of the extra connections for the electricity grid at sea will require an investment of approximately EUR 16 billion, according to the country’s Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy.

In order to realize the construction according to the plan, TenneT will award contracts for the manufacture of the platforms, cables, and equipment before the final permits have been obtained, the Ministry said.

”We want to make the North Sea our largest green energy source. That’s a huge job. The construction of a wind farm and the connection to the electricity grid takes several years, whereby we constantly keep an eye on the ecological impact. In order to achieve our goals for 2030, we are now making haste to get the wind farms up and running as quickly as possible,” Rob Jetten, the Minister for Climate and Energy Policy, said.

Back in May, the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, and Germany set a target of developing at least 65 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2030, and at least 150 GW by 2050.

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