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. TenneT, the Dutch Transmission System Operator, is therefore studying the possibilities of a high-voltage grid at sea together with the Ministry of Economic Affairs. Such a grid would contribute to the integration of sustainable energy.
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. In addition, Parliament has adopted a motion calling on the government to amend the Electricity Act of 1998 in order to give TenneT responsibility for connecting all the offshore wind farms to the existing electricity grid, including laying transmission cables along the sea bed.
“These exciting developments give TenneT an opportunity to contribute to a more sustainable energy supply system”, said Lex Hartman, TenneT’s Director of Corporate Development. “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. From the initial analyses, we can conclude that TenneT is more than capable of connecting offshore wind farms to the landside transmission grid by means of a so-called ‘wall socket at sea’.”
To further flesh out the plans for an offshore high-voltage grid, TenneT and the Ministry of Economic Affairs are exploring the options in terms of legislation, economic aspects, technology, physical planning and connection systems.
