TenneT congratulates Danish utility company DONG Energy for winning the tender for the construction of offshore wind farms off the Dutch coast near Borssele.
TenneT CEO Mel Kroon commented: “The result of the first Borssele tender is very positive, and TenneT is looking forward to working together with DONG Energy to make the first wind farm areas near Borssele a success. This is a clear result of the approach towards offshore wind energy adopted in the Netherlands, with a systematic roll-out, clear plot decisions, and TenneT's standardized transmission systems, which has led to some very competitive offers.”
By making TenneT responsible for the lengthy and sometimes complex procedures for the development of the required infrastructure, the risk profile for wind farm developers improved to such an extent that their offers were much more competitive than anticipated. TenneT therefore considers the Dutch approach as particularly suitable for offshore wind energy projects after 2023, for which cost reduction will continue to play a major role.
Mel Kroon: “We were able to leverage our experience in connecting offshore wind farms in Germany by proposing an optimum technical standard concept of five 700 MW grid connections. In return, the successful Dutch tender system is now being exported to Germany, where new offshore wind farms will also be tendered. This shows the importance of European cross-border cooperation in facilitating and organizing the required energy transition.”