The Dutch government has announced the postponement of tenders for two offshore wind farms with a combined capacity of 2GW, due to a lack of interest from potential bidders, as reported by Reuters.
Initially scheduled for September 2025, the tenders have been scaled back to just one North Sea location with 1GW capacity.
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The Nederwijk wind farm Site I-A tender will open in October 2024 with revised criteria to enhance the business case for offshore wind. Its 1GW capacity is expected to meet 3.5% of the country’s electricity needs.
The government has also simplified the ranking criteria and adjusted the timing of the voluntary financial offer to ease the burden on developers.
The government has completed a custom process to ensure the safe co-existence of the Nederwijk I-A wind farm and the nearby K13-A gas platform. This milestone demonstrates the potential for integrating wind farms with gas extraction operations in the North Sea.
The tender for Sites IJmuiden Ver Gamma-A and Gamma-B, initially included in this round, will be deferred due to worsening market conditions and a lack of substantial electricity demand.
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By GlobalDataClimate Minister Sophie Hermans has indicated that detailed plans for these tenders will be disclosed by the third quarter of 2025, after the previous mid-April deadline was missed.
In March 2025, the Climate Ministry reported minimal interest in the three proposed sites, following statements from energy companies Eneco and Orsted expressing concerns over the viability of the projects without subsidies.
The current zero-subsidy model has led to a withdrawal of prospective bidders, prompting the government to consider the re-introduction of subsidies for future offshore wind farm tenders.
In response to the challenging market conditions, the government is developing an Offshore Wind Action Plan to improve the investment climate for offshore wind and electrification.
Financial support mechanisms, such as price guarantees, are being considered for the period from 2027 onwards to bolster the sector.
The Netherlands has adjusted its target to increase offshore wind capacity to 21GW by the end of 2032 instead of 2030, citing financial, supply chain and decision-making challenges.
In June 2024, the Netherlands awarded permits for a 4GW offshore wind farm development off the country’s west coast.
