Netherlands is WAB partner country for 2025
Bremerhaven, Düsseldorf, February 25, 2025 – The Netherlands is the WAB partner country for 2025. What is new is that the partnership not only relates to the three-day WINDFORCE conference, which will take place in Bremerhaven from June 16 to 18, but also that joint activities will be planned throughout the year. Today, Hannah Tijmes, Consul General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and Markus Nölke, Managing Director of WAB e.V., signed an agreement in Düsseldorf.
In addition to the WINDFORCE conference, digital information events, a parliamentary evening at the Dutch embassy in Berlin and reciprocal delegation trips are planned.
Markus Nölke, Managing Director of WAB e. V.:
“We are delighted to have the Netherlands as the WAB’s partner country for 2025. The Netherlands and Germany are leading the way in the expansion of offshore wind energy and have ambitious targets for the first hydrogen projects. We can learn a lot from each other. We want to intensify our cooperation with the planned activities. After all, our common goal of reducing carbon dioxide emissions and strengthening energy security can only be achieved with joint efforts and projects.”
In 2024, 73 offshore wind turbines with a capacity of 742 MW were commissioned in the German exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and new foundations and turbines were also installed. In total, 1,639 turbines with a capacity of 9.2 gigawatts (GW) were installed in Germany at the end of 2024. The planned expansion target of 30 GW by 2030 is currently expected to be reached by 2031. It is becoming apparent that the target for 2035 of at least 40 GW will be reached one year earlier.
Hannah Tijmes, Consul General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands:
“We are happy to join forces in solving the energy transition by partnering up for the Windforce Conference. Cross-border infrastructure for projects in wind energy and hydrogen are the visible result of close cooperation and an interwoven economy between our regions. This way we create energy and synergy. The Windforce Conference is a yearly highlight of exchange: exchange of knowledge, of best practices and of new ideas. Both our countries will profit from its results. This year’s special edition with the Netherlands will include the theme of hydrogen and will underline that the integration of projects in wind energy and hydrogen will lead to innovative solutions, a reduction of CO2 and security of supply.”
With the completion of the construction of the windpark Hollandse Kust (Noord) in December 2024, the Netherlands realised 4.7 GW of total offshore wind capacity, the equivalent of 16% of national electricity consumption. Doing so, it overperformed in time and capacity the goals it had set itself. This was possible due to a sharp reduction in the construction period and a higher efficiency created by the “one-stop-shop” principle during the tendering phase. The Netherlands has set itself the goal in 2020 to produce -55% of CO2 (compared to 1990) by 2030. By 2033, a total capacity of 21 GW of offshore wind energy should be reached.
About WAB
The WAB is the nationwide contact for the offshore wind industry, the onshore network in the Northwest and promotes the production of green hydrogen from wind power. The association includes around 250 smaller and larger companies as well as institutes from all areas of the wind industry, the maritime industry, the emerging hydrogen economy and science. We represent about 160,000 professionals through our members. As the voice of the value chain, the Wind Industry and Hydrogen Association WAB e.V. advocates climate protection with green energy as electrons and molecules.
Press contact:
Markus Nölke
Managing Director WAB e.V.
Tel.: +49 16094421550
