Construction has officially started on the jacket for the 2-gigawatt (GW) IJmuiden Ver Beta offshore wind platform in the Netherlands, marking a key milestone in TenneT’s offshore grid expansion.
The jacket, which serves as the foundational steel structure anchoring the platform to the seabed, is being manufactured by Dutch company Heerema Fabrication Group. It is one of three jackets Heerema will build as part of a 2GW programme on behalf of the Seatrium and GE Vernova consortium for TenneT.
Measuring 90 metres in length, 43 metres in width, and weighing over 10,000 tonnes, the jacket is among the largest steel structures ever constructed in the Netherlands for offshore wind.
Jessie van der Linden, director of TenneT’s 2GW programme, said: “Today we are taking an important step towards the realisation of the first 2GW platform. I am proud to see that a Dutch company such as Heerema Fabrication Group will be building these jackets. Their craftsmanship and experience contribute to the success of this programme, which is crucial for the energy transition and our energy independence. It shows once again that the realisation of the energy infrastructure of the future is also firmly anchored in our own country.”
The IJmuiden Ver Beta wind farm, operated by Zeevonk—a joint venture between Vattenfall and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners—is expected to be commissioned in two phases, with 1GW coming online in 2029 and the remaining 1GW by 2032.
Samuel Wong, executive vice president of fixed platforms at Seatrium, said: “The steel cutting ceremony for the IJmuiden Ver Beta jacket is not just a milestone – it’s a bold step in energy transition, providing the stable foundation needed for a sustainable energy future. We look forward to strengthening our long-term partnership to bring TenneT’s vision to life.”
Heerema Fabrication Group’s chief executive, Richard Spronk, added: “We are proud that we can contribute our expertise to TenneT’s 2GW programme. This contract confirms the confidence in our craftsmanship and gives us the opportunity to work together on a sustainable energy infrastructure for the future.”
TenneT plans to develop 13 such offshore wind connections in the Dutch and German North Sea by 2032, using an innovative design approach to reduce the number of cables and platforms required. This is expected to improve construction efficiency and sustainability.
By 2032, approximately 75% of the Netherlands’ electricity consumption is projected to be met by offshore wind farms connected to TenneT’s grid.
