Zero Subsidy Bidders to Take First Stab at Dutch Offshore Wind Zones

The Netherlands will allow companies interested in developing the 700MW Hollandse Kust Zuid I and II offshore wind farm zones without government subsidies to submit their bids prior to the subsidy and permit tender planned for this autumn.

If there is no interest in building the two 350MW wind farm zones without subsidies, the tender procedure will go on as planned, Henk Kamp, the Dutch Minister of Economic Affairs said in a letter to the Parliament.

”Three years ago it was expected that up to 18 billion euros would be needed for the five wind farms off the coast of Zeeland and Holland. That included 4 billion euros for the offshore grid, necessary to get the power ashore. But now the costs have been more than halved and the expectation is that they will fall further. I will now give businesses the opportunity to tender for the next wind farm – which is Hollandse Kust Zuid – in writing without subsidies,” Minister Kamp said.

The Netherlands has six offshore wind sites in the pipeline at the two Hollandse Kust zones: four at Hollandse Kust Zuid, and two at Hollandse Kust Noord. Each of the sites at the wind farm zones can accommodate 350MW. 

The subsidy and permit tender for the 700MW Hollandse Kust Zuid zones III and IV is scheduled for 2018. The Hollandse Kust Noord subsidy and permit tender is slated for 2019.