TenneT concludes first contract for development of offshore grid

For the Borssele wind energy area, TenneT has commissioned ARCADIS in a consortium with Pondera Consult to guide the processes regarding the environmental impact report (EIR) and the permit applications.

The Borssele wind energy area is the first of three areas designated by the Ministry of Economic Affairs to be developed for the construction of wind farms which will be connected to the onshore grid. In a directional decision, Economic Affairs has appointed TenneT as operator of the offshore grid. This means that TenneT will be responsible for connecting the 3,450 megawatts (MW) to be produced by new offshore wind farms. According to the SER Energy Agreement, a total of 4,450 MW of offshore wind capacity must be operational by 2023.

Collaboration and support

Senior Manager TenneT Offshore NL, Marco Kuijpers: "We want to press ahead. The planned route map for the development of renewable energy in the Dutch section of the North Sea is ambitious. For large-scale infrastructural projects like this one, proper collaboration with all stakeholders is of great importance, so we need to join forces and get going with the clearly-structured plan for the development of offshore wind presented in September by the Ministry of Economic Affairs."

TenneT greatly values input from local stakeholders in order to get a clear idea of the impact of the new infrastructure and to limit it where possible. In collaboration with the government, the ministries of Economic Affairs and Infrastructure and the Environment and the Foundation for Nature & Environment, TenneT aims to secure maximum support for its activities. During the development of the project, therefore, TenneT will certainly engage in a dialogue with stakeholders and obtain expertise where necessary, for instance in the areas of spatial integration and ecology.  

Grid connection of the Borssele area

he grid connections at Borssele will be composed of two offshore platforms of 700 MW for four lots of 350 MW in the Borssele wind energy area. Each platform will be connected to TenneT's onshore high-voltage grid by means of two high-voltage cables (220 kV). TenneT's 380 kV high-voltage substation at Borssele will be expanded for this purpose.

On behalf of TenneT, ARCADIS (in a consortium with Pondera) will prepare all documents needed for decision-making, such as the environmental impact report, background documentation and permit applications. Moreover, strategic advice regarding the permits process, consultation of competent authorities and stakeholder management are also part of the contract commissioned to ARCADIS and Pondera.