The Netherlands has amended the permit for the 2GW IJmuiden Ver Beta offshore wind project, allowing the developer to delay half of the capacity to 2032 due to a postponed hydrogen pipeline, the Dutch government said on Thursday.
The offshore wind site was awarded in June 2024 to Zeevonk, a joint venture between Vattenfall and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, with original plans for full commissioning by the end of 2029. The project was also expected to include a 1GW electrolyser at Maasvlakte and a 50MWp offshore solar array.
However, Minister for Climate and Green Growth Sophie Hermans said in a letter to parliament that the delay of the Delta Rhine Corridor hydrogen pipeline to 2032 had made the original timeline unfeasible.
“The delay means Zeevonk would face a limited market and major revenue shortfalls,” Hermans stated. “Without adjustments, the project would no longer be financially viable.”
The pipeline is intended to carry green hydrogen from Maasvlakte to customers in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany. In response to its delay, the revised permit allows 1GW of offshore wind capacity to be delivered by 2029, with the remaining 1GW to follow in 2032, aligning with the expected pipeline completion.
Under the updated terms, the project will contribute 1GW towards the Netherlands’ 2030 climate goals. The minimum mandatory system integration requirement has also been reduced from 1GW to 500MW, with commissioning now scheduled for 2033.
Zeevonk’s total permit payment will be cut from €800 million to €400 million. The developer will make €20 million annual payments in the first two years, pause payments during construction, and resume higher instalments after commissioning, with the largest sums due in the later years of the 40-year permit term.
The offshore solar requirement has been revised to a 6MWp pilot project by 2028, with the potential to expand to 50MWp depending on technical and financial feasibility. The smaller-scale project is now expected earlier than originally planned.
The phasing change will have “considerable financial consequences” for national grid operator TenneT, which will need to amend existing contracts under the country’s 21GW offshore wind roadmap. Additional costs may be recovered through network tariffs, subject to regulatory approval from ACM.
Hermans said the decision followed negotiations with Zeevonk and a review by consultancy KPMG, which concluded the changes were reasonable and did not overcompensate the developer.
“Without the revised terms, Zeevonk would likely have been unable to build the project, triggering a permit revocation, re-tender process, and potential loss of nearly the entire financial bid,” Hermans said.
She added that current market conditions make attracting alternative bidders unlikely, risking further delays and higher costs for the state and TenneT.
