SSE Renewables and its consortium partners, including pension fund ABP and pension investor APG, have signed a Realisation Agreement with TenneT for the offshore grid connection of the 2GW IJmuiden Ver Alpha offshore wind farm. The project, located 60 km off the Dutch coast, marks a significant step in the Netherlands' energy transition.
The agreement facilitates the development and construction of the grid infrastructure needed to connect the wind farm to the Dutch high-voltage grid. Generated electricity from the offshore wind farm will be transmitted to the converter station in Borssele, where it will be converted to alternating current before being sent to end-users.
This will be the first offshore wind farm in the Netherlands to be connected via TenneT's new 2GW direct current standard. The project is expected to be operational by the end of 2029.
Bart Saenen, Senior Director of Infrastructure Investments at APG, commented, “Our consortium, together with TenneT, is proud to take this first step towards the realisation of the newest and largest wind farm in the Dutch North Sea. TenneT is introducing an impressive new standard with the 2GW direct current connection. This will soon allow the generated green power—about 7% of the current Dutch electricity demand—to be efficiently transmitted from the sea to households and businesses in the country.”
The consortium's development proposal emphasizes environmental sustainability, with a focus on mitigating ecological impact and enhancing biodiversity. In collaboration with Naturalis Biodiversity Center, the group will also investigate how offshore wind farms can contribute to ecosystem protection.
Jasper Vis, Netherlands Country Manager at SSE Renewables, said, “With the signing of the realisation agreement, we are taking another important step to progress development of the 2GW Alpha site in the IJmuiden Ver Wind Farm Zone. This represents an unrivalled opportunity for our consortium to work collaboratively with TenneT to realise the potential of this innovative new offshore wind farm.”
Maarten Abbenhuis, Chief Operating Officer at TenneT, emphasized the significance of the collaboration, stating, “This consortium has a strong Dutch link through the involvement of APG combined with the experience of the international renewable energy developer SSE Renewables. Together, we are ambitious to successfully develop this first 2GW connection and the wind farm. It is an important step in making the Dutch energy supply more sustainable for consumers and industry.”
By 2032, the Netherlands aims to achieve 21GW of energy from offshore wind. The IJmuiden Ver Alpha wind farm will be the first to be connected under the new 2GW standard, setting a precedent for future offshore wind projects in the region.
