The Dutch Government’s offshore wind energy programme is making significant waves in the energy sector, after Dong Energy bid a record-low price for the contract to build and operate the first two projects offered in the country’s five-year tender programme. That could only happen because of the steps taken by the State in designing an offshore wind plan and tender system that alleviates risk for the industry, as Ruud de Bruijne, Project Manager, Offshore Wind Energy, Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO.nl) explains.
Under the Netherlands Energy Agreement for Sustainable Growth, the Dutch government has set a target of 14% of all energy to be generated from renewable sources by 2020, rising to 16% by 2023. Offshore wind power is central to achieving that and, as a country, we are determined to make the Netherlands a leading force in the sector.
Under our Government’s plan, there should be 4500 MW of offshore wind plant operating in the Dutch North Sea by 2023, up from the 1000 MW currently operating or under construction. Specifically, the plan will see 3500 MW of new capacity installed across two wind farm zones (Borssele and Hollandse Kust), broken down into five 700 MW tender rounds. Critically, the plan actively fosters a culture of innovation and aims for offshore wind costs to fall by 40% (compared to 2014). Already, that plan is being seen to work.
The cost of building and operating the two projects offered up for tender in the first round of the programme is expected to be €2.7 billion cheaper than previously estimated. These two 350 MW projects are located more than 22 km off the coast of the province of Zeeland at Sites I and II of the Borssele Offshore Wind Farm Zone.
