News item | 16-05-2025 | 17:58
In October this year, companies can compete for the permit for the construction and operation of a new wind farm on the North Sea. The tender criteria are adjusted for the Lot Nederwiek to improve the business case for wind at sea. The Minister of Climate and Green Growth is taking these measures to make the upcoming tender round more attractive and to allow the construction of wind farms at sea at a realistic pace.
Wind energy at sea is indispensable in our current and future energy system. It is a relatively affordable and easily scalable source of clean energy. The cabinet therefore designates the Lot Nederwiek for the next wind farm at sea. This wind farm will have a capacity of 1 gigawatt (GW), which is good for around 3.5% of our Dutch electricity consumption.
Fewer lots and relaxation registration requirements
Lots IJmuiden Ver Gamma-A and Gamma-B (2 x 1 GW) were also planned for this tender round. Due to the deteriorated market conditions for wind energy at sea projects, among other things due to the absence of large-scale instrumentation to electricity, Gamma-A and B are later taught.
The rules and criteria are also relaxed in the tender for Nederwiek IA. In September 2024 it was already announced that the lot size is reduced from 2 GW to 1 GW. This lowers the required investment per lot, which reduces the financial risks for wind farm developers. The maximum liability for a wind farm developer is also limited in the first two years of the permit. In that period, the wind farm developer can ask the minister to withdraw the permit when payment of the bank guarantee. For example, if the market conditions are too bad to continue with the development of the wind farm.
In addition, the government has illuminated the criteria on which the supply of the wind farm developers is assessed. These criteria stimulate parties to innovations on, for example, ecology or circularity. By relieving costs for the wind farm developers for applying those innovations can be reduced. In addition, the voluntary financial offer only needs to be paid from the realization of the wind farm, rather than from the moment of permit.
Inputing wind farms and mining platforms
For the Nederwiek IA lot, a customized process has been completed for the first time to ensure safe accessibility by helicopter of the nearby gas platform K13-A. Research shows that the operation on K13-A is not at stake and there is therefore room for both the wind farm and the mining platform on this part of the North Sea. A positive outcome has also come from the tailor-made trajectory in Kavel IJmuiden Ver Gamma-B, with smart and space-saving solutions remains the opportunity to tap into new gas reserves. The adjusted lot decision will be published soon. This is a first milestone in customization at sea for combining wind farms and gas extraction, both priorities for the cabinet.
Action plan wind at sea
The deteriorated market conditions require a government that helps the market through this phase. The government is therefore now working on an action plan for wind energy at sea with which the investment climate for wind energy at sea and at the same time the investment climate for electrification can be improved by the customers of this. For the period from 2027, instruments for financial support are also looked at, such as a minimum and maximum price guarantee (contract for Difference).
On Tuesday, June 10, KGG, RVO and Tennet are organizing a webinar to explain the regulation for Nederwiek IA. You can register here: https://english.rvo.nl/events/webinar-on-permit-for-tender-nederwiek-ia
More information RVO: https://www.rvo.nl/onderwerpen/windenergie-op-zee/nerwiek-ia