20 GW at 100 tot 150 km north of the Wadden Sea

The Dutch Government’s approach to offshore wind

With the National Energy System Plan (NPE), the Netherlands is committed to continued growth of offshore wind energy with a target of 35 GW by 2035, 50 GW by 2040 and 70 GW by 2050. This development is necessary for the energy transition and to make the Netherlands more energy independent. The infrastructure needed for this is described in the Energy Infrastructure Plan North Sea 2050, which is currently being worked on. After that, the government will designate new wind energy areas, taking into account all other offshore activities and hydrogen production.

Deep sea

When wind energy area 6/7 is designated in the Partial Review of the North Sea Program, the first large-scale energy hub and hydrogen production will be developed there.

The responsible ministry has an open mind for the construction of an island, but due to perceived risks for constructing an island in a 40-meter-deep sea, platforms for a hub are now the preferred solution. For less deep locations, the option of islands is being kept open.

Look before you leap

Search area 6/7 is a huge area, 200 kilometers off the coast where ecology and shipping safety still need further study. It is a prime location for hydrogen production and a hub for an international energy network.

Given the numerous wind turbines, installations and distance from the coast, it is almost unimaginable that there would be no island for related activities and accommodations for personnel and a (refuge) port.

Innovative solutions (e.g. not making use of caissons), flexible design’s, function development on the go, floating options may solve these perceived risks and in the same time mitigate risks of a single technology choice (steel platforms, with a limited number of suppliers and installation companies).

This justifies a further analysis of costs and benefits of a multifunctional island in different designs and scenarios of realization at moderate investments, to facilitate a final choice at a later stage.