The Netherlands is set to achieve and surpass its Offshore Wind Energy Roadmap 2023 target by the end of this year. This roadmap, initiated following the Dutch Energy Agreement a decade ago, aimed for 4.5 GW of installed capacity by the end of 2023. Remarkably, the country is on track to have 4.7 GW of offshore wind power operational in the North Sea by December.
Looking ahead, the Netherlands has established an even more ambitious goal: reaching 21 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2030, as outlined in the North Sea Programme 2022-2027. To attain this, rapid and cost-effective deployment of large-scale projects in the coming years is deemed essential.
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Peter Lambooij, Advisor Offshore Wind Energy at the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), highlighted the significant progress made. He stated, “To reach 4.5 gigawatts is a lot since we only started working on building large offshore wind farms in the North Sea from 2017.” This transformation can be attributed to changes in government policies, site characterization, and alterations in the tender system, all of which have mitigated risks, reduced costs, and created a more favorable market environment.
The Dutch approach is rooted in competitive tendering, open to all offshore wind developers seeking development rights for specific project sites. While initially focused on financial, feasibility, and technical criteria, this system now emphasizes ecology and system integration, fostering research and innovation within the industry.
Lambooij emphasized that the Dutch government's clear policies and stable investment climate have played a pivotal role in achieving these targets. Furthermore, the standardization of the offshore grid by TenneT, the transmission system operator, has streamlined operations.
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The Netherlands has also benefited from an experienced supply chain that transitioned expertise from the offshore oil and gas sector to offshore wind, along with contributions from knowledge institutions and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the supply chain.
Collaboration has been another key to success. RVO has fostered a collaborative environment involving the government, investors/developers, the supply chain, and stakeholders, ensuring that offshore wind farms benefit the public, the economy, and the environment.
The upcoming completion of the 759 MW Hollandse Kust Noord offshore wind farm will push the Netherlands' offshore wind capacity to 4.7 GW, meeting approximately 15.8% of the country's current electricity demand.
Looking further into the future, the Netherlands aims to significantly increase its offshore wind-generated electricity, with a target of 21 GW by 2030-2031 and an ambitious goal of 70 GW by 2050. Official targets beyond 2031 will be detailed in the forthcoming National Energy System Plan.
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To celebrate the achievement of the 2023 offshore wind roadmap, RVO will participate in the Offshore Energy Exhibition & Conference (OEEC) in Amsterdam on November 28th and 29th. This event will provide an opportunity to reflect on their accomplishments and the growth of offshore wind, both domestically and globally.
