Dutch transmission system operator Tennet has set out plans to 2030 to connect offshore wind capacity, including the world's first 2 GW direct current offshore wind link.
In total, Tennet is responsible for connecting 9.6 GW of offshore wind capacity between now and 2030. Of this, 5.6 GW is to be connected using alternating current cables and 4 GW with DC cables.
"Based on our experience with innovative technology in Germany, we can now achieve the Dutch ambitions for the development of offshore wind power with fewer cables and fewer platforms," Tennet CEO Manon van Beek said.
This includes two 2 GW, 525 kV DC cables for the 4 GW IJmuiden Ver project, planned to come online between 2027 and 2030.
The offshore converters and wind turbines at IJmuiden Ver, some 80 kilometers offshore, will not be visible from land, Tennet said.
Tennet's standardized concept of 700 MW AC cables with 220 kV voltage will again be used for the first three projects under the 2030 roadmap (Hollandse Kust West and North of the Wadden Islands).
This technology has already been used for the five 700 MW projects under the 2013 plan with the first project -- Borssele 1 and 2 -- to come online this year.
The rollout of the 2 GW cables will benefit from Tennet's HVDC experience in connecting German North Sea wind farms to the grid as well as big onshore links and the NordLink subsea cable from Norway, it said.
Tennet is also investigating with the gas sector and in consultation with the energy ministry whether offshore gas platforms can be supplied with offshore wind power.
In addition, the IJmuiden Ver project could also be extended to the UK as an interconnection, dubbed "WindConnector."
Tennet says offshore wind energy is essential for the Dutch energy transition. Van Beek said that in the long term, this will be an important source for green hydrogen with which other sectors can take step towards sustainability.
Last month, Dutch energy minister Eric Wiebes hailed a second successful offshore wind tender without subsidies, and expects the winner of the 700 MW Hollandse Kust Zuid III and IV license to be announced in early June. At least three bidders confirmed participation in the tender including a consortium of Shell, Dutch utility Eneco and marine engineering firm Van Oord; Swedish utility Vattenfall and Denmark's Orsted. Those three have already each won one of the three tenders under the 2013 accord.
The Dutch government has plans for offshore wind to supply some 40% of current power demand by 2030.
