The largest offshore wind tender round in Dutch history has concluded today (11 June) with the award of the 2GW Ijmuiden Ver Alpha plot to an SSE Renewables consortium and the 2GW Ijmuiden Ver Beta site to Vattenfall and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners.
The sites, located approximately 33 nautical miles off the west coast of the Netherlands, are expected to be commissioned in 2029 and come with a secured grid connection to be built by grid operator TenneT.
Ijmuiden Ver Beta will be developed by the Zeevonk II joint venture to include a 50MW floating solar farm and a new electrolyser at the Port of Rotterdam to generate green hydrogen.
Vattenfall Netherlands CEO Martijn Hagens said: “Combining wind, solar and hydrogen, this project will create a state-of-the-art energy system and support further decarbonisation of industries and our society. We are extremely proud to have been awarded this permit and look forward to implementing our plans for this energy park together with CIP.”
Meanwhile, the Noordzeker consortium (comprising SSE Renewables, APG and ABP) said its plans for Ijmuiden Ver Alpha include measures that will contribute to the protection of birds and reduce disturbance to marine mammals during construction. A ‘living laboratory’ will also be built to show how wind farms combat climate change and artificial reefs installed at more than 75% of turbines.
Netherlands Enterprise Agency RVO said the bids were scored on a range of criteria including the size of the financial offer after the bid ceiling was raised to €420m per year, up from €50m in the previous Hollandse Kust West 6 and 7 auctions in 2022.
RVO confirmed Zeevonk II had made a financial offer of €20m a year for the 40-year permit period and would also pay a further €20m for environmental impact assessments and site characterisation studies.
Noordzeker bid over €1m per annum, also for 40 years, and will pay the same additional €20m as Zeevonk II.
Other criteria included ecological protection, biodiversity and system integration plus adherence to a new International Responsible Business Agreement that commits signatories to undertaking supply chain due diligence in accordance with UN and OECD guidelines and principles.
Climate and Energy Minister Rob Jetten said: “Noordzeker and Zeevonk II have great plans for these new offshore wind farms. It shows that wind farms and nature can go well together and that offshore wind with smart solutions can help reduce pressure on the onshore power grid. Market conditions have become more complicated, so I am extra happy that these parties want to build offshore wind farms.”
Applications for the tenders were made between 29 February and 28 March.
A third 2GW plot (Ijmuiden Ver Gamma) will open to bidders in Q3 2025 as part of a Dutch government target to deploy 21GW in the North Sea by 2032.