The Netherlands is ramping up its offshore wind energy plans, with the development of the Nederwiek Noord and Hollandse Kust West VIII Wind Farm Zones. The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland; RVO) has issued a prior information notice for the development of an integrated ground model (IGM) and a geotechnical interpretative report for these zones, with the aim of providing sufficient accuracy for preliminary foundation design. The deliverables of this project will be shared with participants in the concession tender for the offshore wind farm zones.
The contract for this project is divided into two lots. Lot 1, which refers to IGM for the Nederwiek Noord wind farm zone, has a contract value of EUR 3 million, while Lot 2, referring to IGM for the Hollandse Kust West VIII zone, has a contract value of EUR 1.4 million. The estimated publication date of the contract notice is May 18, 2023.
The Dutch Government has designated three new offshore wind areas – Nederwiek, Lagelander, and Doordewind – and confirmed two previously designated areas, the northern part of Ijmuiden Ver and the southern part of Hollandse Kust West. With the new areas, the Netherlands plans to double its total offshore wind energy capacity to around 21 GW by 2030.
The government has disclosed tendering timelines and locations for nine offshore wind projects with a combined capacity of up to 13.4 GW. Nederwiek Noord II and III will be auctioned off in 2026 and are scheduled for commissioning in 2030 and 2031, respectively. Hollandse Kust West VIII will be put out to tender in 2026 or 2027, with the commissioning deadline expected to be after 2031.
The Netherlands' commitment to offshore wind energy is a significant step towards achieving its goal of becoming carbon-neutral by 2050. With more countries exploring the potential of offshore wind, it is likely to become a crucial part of the global energy mix, helping to reduce carbon emissions and combat climate change.
