The CrossWind consortium, a collaboration between Shell and Eneco, is to build and operate the third subsidy-free offshore windfarm in the Dutch sector of the North Sea
Apart from building and operating the 750-MW Hollandse Kust (Noord) windfarm, the CrossWind consortium will also use the site to test innovations such as energy storage, that could be applied at larger scale in future offshore windfarms.
The technology demonstrations on the offshore windfarm will include a floating solar farm; short-term battery storage; turbines that are ‘tuned’ to minimise the wake effect that turbines can have on each other; green hydrogen made by electrolysis; and the combination of these individual measures to ensure a continuous power supply regardless of the wind.
Shell Integrated Gas and New Energies director Maarten Wetselaar said, “We are proud to realise Hollandse Kust (Noord) together with our joint venture partner, Eneco. Offshore wind will play a pivotal role in the energy transition. It will also be another important next step in our ambition to become a net-zero emissions energy business by 2050 or sooner, in step with society.
“This windfarm is a crucial part of a new value chain – from wind to hydrogen – with our ambition to build a green hydrogen plant in Rotterdam and with NortH2. This investment fits very well with Shell’s aspirations to competitively deliver more, cleaner energy to our customers, at home, on the go and at work.”
Hollandse Kust (Noord) is approximately 18.5 km off the coast of northern Holland. CrossWind will install 69 wind turbines manufactured by Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, each with a capacity of 11 MW and a rotor diameter of 200 m.
The export cable that will bring the electricity produced by Hollandse Kust (Noord) to shore will be installed by Dutch transmission system operator TenneT.
The consortium plans to have Hollandse Kust (Noord) operational in 2023.
Following the announcement that CrossWind had won the tender, offshore contractor Van Oord confirmed it has been contracted for the balance of plant scope for the project.
As balance of plant contractor, Van Oord will be responsible for engineering, procurement, construction and installation of the foundations, inter array cables and transportation and installation of the wind turbines.
Van Oord will deploy its offshore installation vessels Aeolus, MPI Adventure and MPI Resolution and cable-laying vessel Nexus.
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