The south eastern Dutch province of Zeeland is hoping to cash in on future offshore wind development and predicts Orsted’s in-construction 752MW Borssele 1&2 project will bring considerable local benefits.
Speaking in an Orsted video the region’s vice-governor Jo-Annes de Bat called offshore wind energy “a boon for the Zeeland economy” and said the industry offers “enormous opportunities for Zeeland”.
“It will bring a lot of employment, knowledge and innovation,” he said.
Zeeland’s airfields and ports will be among those to benefit from jobs created on Borssele 1&2, according to locals.
The airport of Midden-Zeeland will be used to transfer technicians to the project’s 94 Siemens Gamesa 8MW machines via helicopter.
Airport director Enno Belderok said the projects offered “a source of income in the longer term”.
Work is already underway on a 2100 square-metre O&M base for Borssele 1&2 at the port of Vlissingen-Buitenhaven. The facility will employ up to 100 people.
“The expansion of operations and maintenance offers long-term continuity. We foresee a lot of additional employment in the offshore wind sector,” Zeeland Seaport’s commercial manager Peter Geertse said.
Borssele 1&2 will be connected to shore via the Borssele Alpha HVAC platform, which was installed by SHL in August.
The projects are due online in 2020.