SSE and APG move forward with Netherlands offshore wind project

SSE and APG are moving forward with development of an offshore wind farm in the Netherlands.

Joint venture partners SSE and APG - acting on behalf of Dutch pension fund ABP - have confirmed their Noordzeker consortium (50:50 joint share) is moving forward with the 2GW Alpha offshore wind tender site in the IJmuiden Ver Wind Farm Zone in the Netherlands.

Located about 62km off the Dutch coast off the port town of Ijmuiden, the IJmuiden Ver Alpha project would be capable of generating enough offshore wind energy annually to meet around 7% of the current Dutch electricity demand.

Subject to reaching a Final Investment Decision (FID), expected by late 2025, the wind farm would be commissioned by the end of the decade.

SSE Renewables would build the project on behalf of the SSE-APG consortium.

Last month the Dutch Government awarded the Noordzeker consortium the rights to a pre-developed and fully consented offshore wind site in the Dutch North Sea.

The consortium is entering into the 40-year lease period for the Alpha site for an annual payment of around EUR 1 million. 

In addition to being fully consented, the awarded site also benefits from a confirmed grid connection to the Netherlands’ national grid which will be separately developed and constructed by Dutch grid operator, TenneT.

The IJmuiden Ver tender marks SSE’s first seabed award in the established Dutch offshore wind market where the company sees significant and sustainable growth potential. 

The Netherlands represents a complementary and adjacent market to SSE’s existing North Sea offshore projects, with an established supply chain and a mature corporate power purchase agreement (CPPA) market. 

The Dutch Government has set a target of 21GW of offshore wind to be tendered by 2032, and a 50GW target by 2040.

The 2GW IJmuiden Ver Alpha project (SSE share 1GW) grows SSE’s secured offshore wind pipeline to 9.3GW and further progresses SSE’s ambition to grow its offshore wind business into carefully selected markets.

Stephen Wheeler, managing director of SSE Renewables, said: “We are pleased to be progressing development of the 2GW Alpha site in the IJmuiden Ver Wind Farm Zone in the Netherlands with our consortium partners APG and ABP.

“Our successful bid is testament to the work the consortium and its partners have undertaken to put forward a compelling set of proposals to sensitively develop our proposed offshore wind project in a manner which will positively contribute to the marine environment while delivering a cleaner and more secure energy system for the Netherlands. 

“We now look forward to collaborating with our consortium partners, Dutch authorities, supply chains and other stakeholders as we progress the project.”