TenneT has launched a tender for the substations for the IJmuiden Ver projects as it accelerates adoption of large-scale offshore wind projects and interconnectors using a new 2-GW standard
The new transmission standard is designed to support the next step towards larger offshore windfarms and a North Sea-wide European hub-and-spoke transmission system, combining generation and distribution, coupling energy markets through interconnectors.
As part of these plans, the IJmuiden Ver projects will be ‘hub ready’ to connect a future multi-purpose interconnector such as the ‘WindConnector’ to the UK.
A contract is expected to be awarded by the end of 2022. A tender for engineering for the substation for IJmuiden Ver on land has already been issued, and a cable contract will follow later this year. The first 2-GW IJmuiden Ver connection is planned to be operational in 2028.
TenneT director offshore development Marco Kuijpers said, “Wind energy from the North Sea plays a crucial role in realising the ambitious offshore wind goals of the Netherlands and Europe. Households and certainly heavy users such as the industry need to electrify. TenneT’s experience in offshore grid development combined with the expertise and insight of market partners have resulted in a 2-GW grid connection that will play a very important role unlocking the North Sea Powerhouse as a source of sustainable energy, for not only the Netherlands and Germany, but all of northwest Europe.”
“With the 2-GW Programme we can unlock the possibilities of the North Sea. We can provide Europe and its inhabitants with even more green energy in a safe and cost-efficient way – all with the least environmental impact possible.
“The 2-GW Programme will increase the pace of deployment and tackle the future of the offshore grid expansion through harmonisation. At least six standardised offshore grid connections with a transmission capacity of 2 GW each will strengthen TenneT’s role as driver of the European energy transition in the Dutch and German North Sea.”
“European climate objectives are becoming more and more ambitious. If we want to meet the EU Fit for 55 targets, we need to speed up what we are doing three to four times,” said TenneT. “Offshore wind will play a crucial role in the energy transition: Europe wants to connect a total of 60 GW of offshore energy by 2030 and 300 GW by 2050.”
The 2-GW standard will more than double capacity compared to the existing 900-MW HVDC standard and almost triple the 700-MW AC standard.
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