Nature and energy system even more important for next offshore wind farms

Wind farms supply over 3 million households with electricity

In September 2025, developers can apply for a permit for the construction and operation of a wind farm at Sites IJmuiden Ver Gamma-A, IJmuiden Ver Gamma-B and Nederwiek I-A. These wind farms will generate enough power to supply over 3 million households with electricity.

The permit procedure for Site Nederwiek I-B is being postponed. This is because there is a gas transit platform near the Nederwiek I-B site. Research is underway into how helicopters can safely reach this platform with a wind farm in the area.

Opportunities for nature

Wind farm developers participating in the tender can earn points by demonstrating the extent to which they meet a number of criteria. The more points, the greater the chance of winning the permit. The criteria in the tenders encourage applicants to come up with new and innovative ideas.

For Site Nederwiek I-A, the emphasis is on reducing the negative impact of a wind farm on nature in the North Sea. And on ideas that can strengthen nature. For example, wind farms can be a good place for the reproduction of various species of fish and other animals. The regulations for Sites IJmuiden Ver Gamma-A and -B also contain criteria for strengthening nature.

Electricity on the full electricity grid

For Sites IJmuiden Ver Gamma-A and -B, there is a greater focus on the integration of electricity into the onshore energy system. The electricity grid in the Netherlands is congested and offshore wind farms generate a lot of electricity. How will wind farm developers smartly integrate this electricity into the Dutch energy system?

This can be done, for example, by stimulating demand for electricity in South Holland. There, the electricity from the wind farms comes ashore on the Maasvlakte. There are a number of large industrial companies in South Holland. If they start using electricity instead of, for example, natural gas (electrification), the electricity produced by the offshore wind farms will not have to go as far into the grid. Thereby, the electricity avoids a number of bottlenecks on the grid.

Reduced financial risks for developers

Each site can accommodate approximately 1 gigawatt (GW) of offshore wind energy. This makes the sites smaller than in the previous permit round. At that time, RVO issued permits for Sites IJmuiden Ver Alpha and IJmuiden Ver Beta (each about 2 GW).

The ministry of Climate Policy and Green Growth split the Sites at the request of wind farm developers. With smaller sites, the (financial) risks for developers are reduced.

Respond to the Draft Ministerial Orders (regulations) and Draft Wind Farm Site Decisions

In January 2025, wind farm developers and other stakeholders who want to respond to the Draft Ministerial Orders (regulations) can provide feedback to the Ministry of Climate Policy and Green Growth. This may lead to adjustments to the final Ministerial Orders. The final Ministerial Orders are expected to be published in March or April 2025. You can register for an appointment via woz@rvo.nl.

The Draft Ministerial Orders can be found at Permits for wind farms at IJmuiden Ver Gamma-A and Gamma-B, and Nederwiek I-A and I-Bere (in Dutch).

The Draft Wind Farm Site Decisions will also be published on the RVO website. They are available for inspection from Friday 22 November 2024 to Thursday 2 January 2025. Anyone can submit a response to these. This may lead to adjustments to the final Site Decisions.

From 22 November 2024, you can respond to the draft site decisions via the pages below. You will also find all information about the procedure on these pages.

• IJmuiden Ver Gamma-A and Gamma-B (in Dutch)
• Nederwiek I-A (in Dutch)