Dutch/German transmission system operator TenneT has awarded 11 contracts of 2 GW each to bring green electricity from the North Sea to land in unprecedented volumes. It has secured eight Dutch and three German 2 GW grid connection systems to be commissioned by 2031. The contracts are with three consortiums consisting of Hitachi Energy/Petrofac, GE/Sembcorp Marine and GE/McDermott. The total volume of the eleven orders is approximately €23 billion.
TenneT believes its strategy of concluding the largest long term agreement for 2 GW HVDC systems underlines its commitment to accelerate the offshore grid development in Europe, sets the course for the future European energy landscape, and helps further a wisespread ambition to develop the North Sea into Europe's green energy powerhouse.
With 40 GW, TenneT will account for almost two-thirds of the 65 GW offshore wind energy target by 2030 agreed by Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Belgium in the Esbjerg Declaration of May 2022 at the North Sea Energy Summit. TenneT will build 20 GW in each of the German and Dutch North Sea areas with its 2GW programme, which consists of a new standardised platform and a new certified cable system with a higher transmission capacity. It plays a crucial role in developing the offshore energy transition and could help Europe become the world's first climate-neutral continent.
The 2 GW programme will connect eight offshore wind farms in the Netherlands and three offshore wind farms in Germany by 2031. Future additional HVDC stations are planned to be called off at a later stage. The announced agreements cover offshore platforms and onshore stations, as well as the HVDC system.
Hitachi Energy/Petrofac has been awarded five Dutch projects that will be connected at Borssele (IJmuiden Ver Alpha, Nederwiek 1), Eemshaven (Doordewind 1 and Doordewind 2) and Geertruidenberg or Moerdijk (Nederwiek 3). This partnership will also realise the German connection LanWin5 to be connected at Rastede.
GE/SMOP has been awarded three Dutch projects that will be connected at Maasvlakte, Rotterdam (IJmuiden Ver Beta, IJmuiden Ver Gamma and Nederwiek 2). GE/McDermott will execute the German projects BalWin4 and LanWin1 that will be connected at Unterweser.
TenneT expects that projects BalWin3, LanWin4 (both connecting to the onshore grid at Wilhemshaven) and LanWin2 (connecting at Heide) will also soon be awarded.
With its 2 GW programme, in co-operation with leading global suppliers, TenneT has developed what it believes will be a global offshore standard combining TenneT’s expertise in offshore grid development with a unique transnational approach. With its strong focus on harmonisation and standardisation, it is expected to provide a blueprint for future offshore grid connection systems and enables faster deployment. At the same time, the large capacity of the 2 GW systems reduces the number of grid connections required.
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