Dutch Government selects areas for 2.1GW of Offshore Wind

The Dutch government has selected two offshore wind zones for the development of respective offshore wind farms with a total potential wind capacity of 2.1 GW. This selected areas comprise Hollandse Kust Zuid (South) and Hollandse Kust Noord (North).

On one hand, Hollandse Kust Zuid, which covers a total area of 356 km², will be divided into four sites, each with the capacity to generate 350 MW of wind power. On the other hand, Hollandse Kust Noord will be divided into two 350 MW sites

The subsidy and permit tender for Hollandse Kust Zuid I and II with an expected 700 MW capacity, is scheduled to be launched by 2017, while the tender for the zones III and IV will be issue by 2018. The Hollandse Kust Noord subsidy and permit tender is scheduled to be opened by 2019.

The Dutch government awarded Fugro the supply of oceanographic (metocean) services for the offshore wind projects. The contract involves the execution of the metocean measurement at Hollandse Kust Zuid. 

Additionally, the Netherlands Enterprise Agency, part of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, will provide site specific information on the conditions of wind energy areas to future developers of the Hollandse Kust Zuid Wind Farm Zone. 

The two areas have been outlined in the Draft Public Structure for Offshore Wind (Ontwerp-Rijksstructuurvisie Windenergie op Zee). The draft will be open for public input and comments from 19 August.

In early July, we reported that the Netherlands’ Minister of Economic Affairs awarded DONG Energy the concession to build the Borssele I and II wind farms projects, each of about 350 MW. The firm won the concessions with an average bid strike price of €72.70 per MWh (excluding transmission costs) during the first 15 years of the contract. After that, the wind farms will receive the market price.