Noordzeker and Zeevonk II Awarded Permits for Largest Dutch Offshore Wind Farms
The Netherlands has granted permits for the construction and operation of its largest offshore wind farms to date. The permits have been awarded to Noordzeker and Zeevonk II, with Noordzeker taking charge of the IJmuiden Ver Wind Farm Site Alpha and Zeevonk II managing the IJmuiden Ver Wind Farm Site Beta. Together, these projects will contribute an impressive 4 gigawatts (GW) of Offshore wind energy capacity, covering approximately 14% of the country’s current electricity consumption.
Noordzeker is a consortium that consists of SSE Renewables, ABP and APG. Zeevonk II is a consortium that consists of Vattenfall and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners. Both winners came up with innovative solutions for these social goals.
The permit applications were meticulously evaluated by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) alongside experts, focusing on various qualitative criteria. For Site Alpha, Noordzeker’s proposal emphasized nature conservation, including designs that protect bird populations and minimize disturbances to marine mammals. Additionally, their project will feature artificial reefs to foster marine biodiversity, transforming the site into a ‘living laboratory’ in collaboration with the Dutch research institute, Naturalis.
Zeevonk II’s approach for Site Beta concentrated on integrating the wind farm into the Dutch energy system. Their plans include constructing a 1 GW electrolyser in the port of Rotterdam to convert wind-generated electricity into green hydrogen, and developing the largest offshore solar park in the Netherlands with a capacity of 50 MWp.
Financially, Noordzeker will contribute €1 million annually for 40 years, while Zeevonk II will pay €20 million annually over the same period. Both companies will also cover the costs of environmental impact assessments and site characterisation studies, amounting to approximately €40 million.
The winning consortia were chosen not only for their financial offers but also for their innovative solutions to enhance sustainability and safety. Both projects adhere to the International Responsible Business Conduct Agreement for Renewable Energy, ensuring responsible and circular use of raw materials.
Minister for Climate and Energy, Rob Jetten, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “These projects demonstrate the harmonious coexistence of wind farms and nature, while providing smart solutions to ease the pressure on the onshore power grid. Despite challenging market conditions, it’s encouraging to see such commitment to advancing offshore wind energy.”
The 4 GW capacity from these wind farms represents a significant stride towards a sustainable and climate-neutral Netherlands by 2050, reducing dependency on foreign electricity and bolstering the nation’s clean energy infrastructure.
