Offshore Energy Infrastructure
What infrastructure in the North Sea is needed for offshore wind energy plans after 2030? You can read about this in the North Sea Wind Energy Infrastructure Plan.
What is in the plan?
To transport energy from new offshore wind farms to land, offshore infrastructure is needed, such as cables and pipelines. The North Sea Wind Energy Infrastructure Plan - in Dutch: Windenergie Infrastructuurplan Noordzee (WIN) - outlines the offshore infrastructure decisions we need to make in the coming years to achieve the offshore wind energy targets.
The plan looks ahead from about 2033 to the 2040s, with a view to 2050. The plan will help with the next phase of the Offshore Wind Energy Roadmap, once we have built 21 gigawatts (GW) of wind energy capacity.
This plan was previously known as the North Sea Energy Infrastructure Plan - In Dutch: Energie Infrastructuur Plan Noordzee (EIPN).
North Sea Wind Energy Infrastructure Plan
Key points from the plan:
- We are looking ahead to the amount of offshore wind energy we need for the Netherlands. Recent insights show we need between 30 GW and 40 GW for the period up to and including 2040. This replaces the previously set target of 50 GW. The transition to electricity (electrification) of, among other, industry, is lagging behind compared to earlier expectations. The cost of constructing wind farms has also risen.
- With 30-40 GW of installed capacity, we can generate enough electricity for almost every household in the Netherlands.
- The plan outlines a phased approach. This allows for future insights, technological developments and changing energy needs.
- The previous target of 50 GW was deliberately ambitious. This was partly based on large-scale offshore hydrogen production. We know this is not happening as quickly as we had hoped in the Netherlands and in Europe. Hydrogen production and demand for sustainable hydrogen are therefore developing more slowly than expected.
- We also emphasise the importance of cooperation with neighbouring countries. For example, we can export electricity to England when the wind is blowing here. When the wind is not blowing, we can import electricity from nuclear energy from other countries.
Read the full plan (in Dutch) or read the accompanying Letter to Parliament:
Coherence with other plans
In addition to this plan, the Government is working on the Partial Revision of the North Sea Programme and the Offshore Wind Landfall Connection Programme - In Dutch: Verbindingen Aanlanding Wind op Zee (VAWOZ).
Together, these plans will support the next phase of the Offshore Wind Energy Roadmap up to and including 2040.
Want to know more?
Questions about offshore wind energy?
Send us an email: woz@rvo.nl.
- Ministry of Climate Policy and Green Growth
