TenneT is starting the tender of the stations (Platform & HVDC system) of the Dutch IJmuiden Ver projects. The TSO expects the contract will be awarded by the end of 2022. The first 2GW IJmuiden Ver connection is planned to be operational in 2028.
With this tender, TenneT enters the next phase for the innovative 2GW projects in the IJmuiden Ver wind area.
2 GW standard to accelerate rollout of offshore wind
Together with market parties, TenneT has developed a new 2 GW (Gigawatt) standard to accelerate the rollout of offshore wind. The new standard aims to further reduce the cost of offshore wind and minimize the impact on space and the environment.
The new 2GW standard will more than double the capacity compared to the previous (German) 900 MW HVDC standard and almost triple it compared to the (Dutch) 700 MW AC standard.
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IJmuiden Ver first to feature 2GW connection
The 2GW connection will be applied for the first time in the IJmuiden Ver wind area. When wind farms are connected at IJmuiden Ver, two offshore converter stations of 2 GW each will be installed to convert the alternating current generated by the wind farms into direct current. The cables have a voltage level of 525 kV (525,000 volts). Due to the larger capacity, 2 instead of 6 cables are needed. On land, converters will convert the direct current into alternating current. This technique prevents transmission losses.
The IJmuiden Ver Alpha offshore grid will connect to the existing 380 kV substation in Borssele via the Veerse Meer lake. The IJmuiden Ver Beta offshore grid will land on the southern part of the Maasvlakte and connect to the new 380 kV Amaliahaven substation. Recently the engineering for the land station was tendered and the cable contract will follow later this year.
Permit applications
On Friday 27 August 2021, TenneT submitted all permit applications, including the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), for the IJmuiden Ver Alpha offshore grid and the IJmuiden Ver Beta offshore grid to the competent authorities concerned. This includes the applications for the Water Act permit and the Environmental permit for the networks at sea that are still to be realised. The draft permits, together with the draft location plans, are expected to be made available for public inspection at the end of this year.
Hub ready for future connection to WindConnector
The new transmission standard supports the essential next step towards larger offshore wind farms and a North Sea wide European Hub-and-Spoke system – combining wind power connection, coupling of energy markets through interconnection and smart integration into the main onshore grids. As part of this development, the Dutch IJmuiden Ver projects will be hub ready to connect a future multi-purpose interconnector (WindConnector) to the UK.
Marco Kuijpers, director Large Projects Offshore at TenneT: “Wind energy from the North Sea plays the crucial role in realising the ambitious offshore wind goals for the Netherlands and Europe. Households and certainly heavy users such as the industry need to electrify. TenneT’s experience in offshore grid development combined with the expertise and insight of market partners have resulted in the 2GW grid connection that will play a very important role in unlocking the North Sea Power House as the source of sustainable energy for not only the Netherlands and Germany, but in fact all of Northwest Europe.”
At least six standardised offshore grid connections with a transmission capacity of 2 GW will be realised. Source: TenneT
