Dutch companies apply for offshore wind innovation site

Dutch entrepreneurs are interested in testing and exploiting innovative technologies for wind energy on the innovation site on the North Sea near Borssele. Market parties could submit their application for a permit and subsidy to the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate by 19 January at the latest. In the coming months, the submitted applications will be assessed and the party with the best plan will be designated as the winner.

On the innovation site, new technologies will be tested and further developed from 2020 onwards. At the same time, up to 20 MW of renewable energy is generated; sufficient for thousands of households.

Technological advancement

The Borssele V innovation site is a small plot within the Borssele wind energy area where innovations for offshore wind can be tested and further developed under real conditions. The bids will be judged on their innovative nature, their contribution to knowledge and experience and their effect on further cost reduction for offshore wind. Because innovation projects are usually more expensive than normal projects because of the larger risks and limited scope, the SDE + subsidy is available.

It will soon be known which party will be the winner of the lots I and II of Hollandse Kust (south). No subsidy is needed for this wind farm for the first time. In 2016, the license for the I and II plots of wind farm Borssele was won by Ørsted, and the lots III and IV by a consortium of Eneco, Diamond Generating Europe, Shell and Van Oord.