Multiple applications for permits for the largest offshore wind farms ever

Making 14% of current electricity consumption more sustainable

The 4 GW of IJmuiden Ver Alpha and Beta is enough to make 14% of the current electricity consumption in the Netherlands more sustainable. And it almost doubles the 4.7 GW of current installed capacity of offshore wind energy. This makes the tender for these wind farms the largest in terms of capacity in the history of offshore wind in the Netherlands. To compare: the largest tender round to date was for Hollandse Kust West, for approximately 1.5 GW.

Assessment of applications

Wind farm developers could submit an application for permits for the construction and operation of a wind farm in site Alpha and/or Beta until Thursday 28 March 2024. RVO will assess the applications together with two expert committees now the application period is closed. This is done on the basis of a list of qualitative criteria. This considers, for example, the knowledge and experience of parties involved in the construction of the wind farm. Or to what extent the wind farm is circular (recyclable). The applicant can earn a number of points for each criterion. The winners of the permits are the parties with the most points.

Attention to nature and integration into the energy system

For the Alpha and Beta sites, there were also additional criteria to encourage solution-oriented and innovative bids. At site Alpha, special attention was paid to nature in the North Sea: does the wind farm contribute to the ecosystem? For example, does it strengthen and restore underwater nature? One of the additional criteria applied to site Beta is the contribution to the integration of electricity from the wind farm into the Dutch energy system. For example, by also making the production of hydrogen possible with the generated electricity.