Holland awards 4GW of Offshore Wind Turbines under complex conditions

Two international consortia win concessions for 4 GW offshore wind projects in the Netherlands, without subsidies, marking a turning point in the energy sector.

Share:

Énergie éolienne offshore Pays-Bas

Comprehensive energy news coverage, updated nonstop

Annual subscription

8.25€/month*

*billed annually at 99€/year for the first year then 149,00€/year ​

Unlimited access • Archives included • Professional invoice

OTHER ACCESS OPTIONS

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2€/month*
then 14.90€ per month thereafter

FREE ACCOUNT

3 articles offered per month

FREE

*Prices are excluding VAT, which may vary depending on your location or professional status

Since 2021: 35,000 articles • 150+ analyses per week

The Netherlands has just concluded its largest-ever offshore wind project award, granting permits for two projects of 2 GW each in the Ijmuiden Ver area. The concessions have been awarded to two international consortia, according to a recent announcement by the Dutch Ministry of Energy. This award marks a significant step for the country in its energy transition, despite complex market conditions. The Zeevonk II consortium, made up of Swedish company Vattenfall and CIP (Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners), won the Beta site. The project will focus on system integration, including an electrolysis plant at the port of Rotterdam. The Noordzeker consortium, comprising Dutch pension funds ABP and APG and UK company SSE Renewables, has been awarded the Alpha site, with a focus on nature protection in the North Sea.

Market Conditions and Financial Offers

Current market conditions have become more complicated,” said Rob Jetten, Dutch Minister for Energy and Climate. Despite this, the consortia were able to propose projects without subsidies, accompanied by financial offers for permits. Zeevonk II offered €20 million a year over a 40-year period, while Noordzeker offered over €1 million a year for the same duration. These projects include innovative measures to minimize environmental impact. Noordzeker, for example, plans to install artificial reefs around wind turbines and turbines designed to protect seabirds. In addition, Zeevonk II will build a 1 GW hydrogen production plant in Maasvlakte, strengthening the Netherlands’ green infrastructure.

Objectives and Challenges of the Energy Transition

The projects awarded are in line with the Dutch objective of achieving at least 10 GW of offshore wind power capacity by 2030. The next award, scheduled for the third quarter of 2025, will also include two sites of 2 GW each, with financial offers included. However, delays have been announced for five offshore wind projects, pushing back the 21 GW target to 2032. The main cause of this time lag is tension in the wind farm supply chain, particularly for offshore transmission links.

Economic Impact and Future Prospects

The cost of producing electrolytic hydrogen in Europe remains high, with an average price of $4.39/kg in April for alkaline electrolysis in the Netherlands. Capture prices for offshore wind power in Germany, a proxy close to Dutch prices, have fallen considerably in 2023 compared to the record highs of 2022. The energy generated by these new projects will help stabilize electricity market prices, while promoting the transition to more sustainable energy sources. The Dutch electricity market for delivery in 2030 stood at €65.36/MWh, reflecting a downward trend on previous levels. These developments highlight the challenges and opportunities of the energy transition in the Netherlands, with a particular focus on technological innovations and environmental protection measures.
The Netherlands continues to play a leading role in the offshore wind sector, while navigating increasingly complex market conditions and significant logistical challenges. Future projects and concession awards will be crucial to achieving the country’s energy objectives and ensuring a successful transition to a green economy.

The Dinawan Wind Farm project, first phase of a 1.3 GW energy hub, was selected in the fourth tender round of the Capacity Investment Scheme launched by the Australian Government.
RWE has completed construction of the Kail wind farm, comprising three turbines totalling 12.9 MW, marking its first commissioning in Rhineland-Palatinate.
Ignitis Group has officially submitted its bid to develop a 700 MW offshore wind project in the Baltic Sea, under a Lithuanian state-supported tender scheme.
Ignitis Renewables acquires the remaining stake from Ocean Winds in the Curonian Nord project, securing full ownership of this strategic development in the Baltic Sea.
Chinese manufacturer Ming Yang plans to build the UK’s largest wind turbine facility in Ardersier, with an initial £750mn investment and up to 1,500 jobs created by 2028.
German wind turbine manufacturer Nordex secured 2,170 MW in new orders between July and September, bringing its total volume to 6.7 GW over nine months.
Faria Renewables a finalisé l’acquisition de deux projets éoliens d’une capacité cumulée de 30,8 MW, consolidant son portefeuille d’actifs en Grèce et poursuivant son expansion stratégique sur le marché national.
Google has signed a power purchase agreement with Eneco to supply its Belgian data centre with wind energy from three wind farms totalling 54 MW.
Italian group Dolomiti Energia secures €200mn loan from the European Investment Bank to finance wind farms and modernise power infrastructure in two strategic regions of the country.
Wpd launches a crowdfunding campaign to support the construction of the Bréhand wind farm, aiming to raise €400,000 from residents with a fixed annual interest rate of 7%.
Danish group Orsted will cut a quarter of its workforce by 2027 and reduce its exposure to the United States, relying on a $9.4 billion recapitalisation to consolidate its development in Europe and Asia.
Developer Gwynt Glas enters development phase after signing a lease agreement with The Crown Estate, paving the way for a 1.5GW floating offshore wind project in Welsh waters.
From January 2026, the southern Polish city of Sosnowiec will power its municipal institutions entirely with renewable electricity under a public contract awarded to local provider Hekla Energy.
VSB France begins construction of its largest onshore wind project, a strategic 39.9 MW investment across two municipalities in Calvados, with commissioning scheduled for 2027.
Shell U.S. president stated that cancelling fully permitted wind projects severely undermines investor confidence in the energy sector.
TotalEnergies could bring EDF into the Centre Manche 2 offshore wind project after RWE’s planned withdrawal, strengthening the industrial and financial prospects of the two neighboring parks scheduled for 2032.
Envision Energy has signed an agreement to equip Kazakhstan’s largest wind power project, marking a strategic step in energy cooperation with TotalEnergies, Samruk-Energo and KazMunayGas.
The Swedish energy group aims to produce 9TWh per year with its Storlandet project, intended to meet rising demand from the mining and steel industries in the north of the country.
The two regional utilities join a JERA-led consortium to support the operation of the Ishikari Bay offshore wind farm, which entered service in early 2024.
Energy group Axpo is considering a new installation of three wind turbines in Wil, aimed at powering around 5,000 households and strengthening Switzerland's winter electricity production.

All the latest energy news, all the time

Annual subscription

8.25€/month*

*billed annually at 99€/year for the first year then 149,00€/year ​

Unlimited access - Archives included - Pro invoice

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2€/month*
then 14.90€ per month thereafter

*Prices shown are exclusive of VAT, which may vary according to your location or professional status.

Since 2021: 30,000 articles - +150 analyses/week.