Study into high-voltage grid at sea

It is the European Union’s ambition to realise a sustainable international energy landscape. With a view to achieving this objective, the Dutch Cabinet has set itself the target of increasing the Netherlands’ wind energy capacity to 6000 megawatts (MW) by 2020. In February 2010, the Council of Ministers accepted Minister of Economic Affairs Van der Hoeven’s proposal to make TenneT responsible for the construction and management of the offshore transmission grid as well. 

In December 2008, the Dutch cabinet announced two locations in the North Sea where future offshore wind farms can be developed: a 344-square-kilometre area located some 35 km off the coast of Walcheren, and a second 1170-square-kilometre area approx. 90 km off the coast of Noord-Holland province. In addition, two search areas were defined: one just off the coast of Noord-Holland province, and a second area to the North of the Wadden Sea Islands. It is TenneT’s responsibility to prepare its transmission grid in due time to accommodate these new offshore wind farms. 

Lex Hartman, TenneT’s Director of Corporate Development: “These exciting developments give TenneT an opportunity to contribute to a more sustainable energy supply system. We are making all the necessary preparations to ensure optimum access to these offshore wind farms, and to make sure they are properly integrated into the national high-voltage grid.”

In order to fulfil the sustainability ambitions of the Dutch government, TenneT already started the preparations for an offshore grid in 2008, as well as preparatory planning for bringing the cables onshore at Borssele and IJmuiden. In addition, TenneT and the Ministry of Economic Affairs are exploring further options in terms of legislation, economic aspects, technology, physical planning, and connection systems in order to flesh out the plans for an offshore high‑voltage grid. With the recent acquisition of the German high‑voltage grid operator transpower, which is already active in connecting North Sea wind farms off the German coast to the grid, TenneT can make optimal use of transpower’s experience in this area, as well as benefit from additional purchasing advantages.

Downloads

Position Paper Off shore grid (in Dutch) (pdf 151,80 Kb)