Groningen has presented the draft version of its Regional Energy Strategy (RES). The region aims for 5.7 TWh and potentially up to 6.3 TWh of renewable energy production from onshore solar and wind by 2030.
The Netherlands have agreed in the 2019 Climate Agreement for 35 TWh of renewable energy production from onshore solar and wind by 2030. The country has been divided in 30 regions which each will draft a so-called Regional Energy Strategy (Regionale Energiestrategie) that details how each region will contribute to this goal in the energy transition.
The Groningen region divids her goal in two sections, a confirmed base section and a section of so-called building stones and further ambitions.
The base part totals a production of 4 TWh that will be coming from projects that are already operational, under construction or will be built soon. Of the 4 TWh, 3 TWh will be produced from wind and 1 TWh from solar. Wind energy production is concentrated in 3 areas; Eemshaven (1,4 TWh), Delfzijl (1,1 TWh) and the N33 wind farm (0,5 TWh). These projects will all be operational by 2023 at the latest. Grid operator Enexis has already confirmed the required connection capacity. All new initiatives that receive (SDE+) funding as of 1 January 2020 will be added to the 4 TWh.
Building stones and further ambitions
These consist of projects that have a certain level of viability but are not included in the base section. They could vary from projects that have applied for the 2019 SDE+ Autumn or 2020 Spring round to projects that are still awaiting final consenting. For wind there is only the ambition for 0.4 TWh, coming from the Eemshaven West wind farm (0.3 TWh) and potential small-scaled wind farms. Most of the production, however, will be derived from solar; 0.9 TWh and potentially up to 1.1 TWh more.
Due to uncertainties in available future grid connections, amongst others, the goal set in the RES draft has been set for 5.7 TWh. This allows for some room.
Revised RES planning due to COVID-19
As a consequence of the current COVID-19 virus, the deadlines for submission of the RES drafts and the final RES have been adjusted. The RES draft has to be submitted by 1 October 2020 (previously 1 June 2020). The deadline for submission of the final version (RES 1.0) has been postponed to 1 July 2021 (was 1 March 2021). Source: Regionale-energiestrategie.nl
Related posts:
Conclusion first PBL Monitor draft RES: realisation 35 TWh by 2030 possible yet not set in stone
TenneT and Van Oord start research into biodiversity improvement at cable intersections in the North Sea
DHSS – Setting the standard in vessel & helicopter logistics for offshore wind
Windunie – developing with and for the community
