The Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy announced on April 3 that developers will have the opportunity to apply for two sites in the upcoming offshore wind tender. In addition to the 1 GW IJmuiden Ver Gamma-A site, the 1 GW IJmuiden Ver Gamma-B site will also be available, expanding the tender in the Netherlands to a total of 2 GW.
Originally, the Dutch government planned to award only the 1 GW IJmuiden Ver Gamma-A site in late 2026 via a subsidy-based tender. This was set to occur before introducing the Contract for Difference (CfD) scheme in mid-2027. The updated strategy now includes both Gamma-A and Gamma-B sites under a temporary subsidy scheme to reduce investment risk until the CfD is implemented.
The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) aims to issue subsidy decisions and permits by early 2027. Energy generation from these wind farms is expected to begin in 2032.
The maximum subsidy for Gamma-B is set at EUR 0.103/kWh, slightly lower than Gamma-A, due to anticipated higher wind yields at the site. The tendering of both sites concurrently has delayed the Gamma-A procedure to December.
As noted in a letter to Parliament by Minister Stientje van Veldhoven-van der Meer, the new timeline grants developers additional preparation time, accommodating board approvals typically difficult to secure during the September holidays.
The final tender rules for both sites will be released in the second quarter of 2026, with a six-week online consultation for Gamma-B allowing developers to influence the final regulation. Both projects will connect to the TenneT-operated grid platform at Maasvlakte, enabling immediate connection upon permit receipt, optimizing offshore grid use.
“Connecting both lots to a single platform also requires less work and time. Furthermore, connecting both wind farms at once is cheaper than doing so in stages,” RVO reported.
Original Story at www.offshorewind.biz