The Netherlands is pursuing an increase in offshore wind energy in the North Sea. The energy generated in the North Sea needs to be connected from the wind farms to the onshore high-voltage grid via power cables. In addition to the offshore grid projects already in preparation, which connect to the high-voltage grid near the coast, the possibility of connecting offshore wind energy to the high-voltage grid further inland via a deep landfall is being investigated. Given the Netherlands’ ambitious offshore wind targets and the major challenges involved in expanding the high-voltage grid, efficiently integrating offshore wind farms into the energy system is both a challenge and of great importance.
To investigate the possibilities for deep landfall of offshore wind energy, CE Delft, in collaboration with Arcadis and Haskoning and commissioned by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, carried out a preliminary study. This preliminary study identifies, from the perspectives of the energy system, the environment, the local area and costs, the possibilities, limitations and points for attention involved in bringing offshore wind energy ashore via a deep landfall from the offshore wind energy area 6/7, which is yet to be developed in the North Sea, around 2040. CE Delft was responsible for the energy system analysis as part of the preliminary study. This examined the implications for the energy system of connecting offshore wind energy further inland, with a specific focus on the electricity system. The energy system analysis focuses on the future energy system in 2040 and 2050.
The various preliminary studies were sent to the House of Representatives on 9 July by J. de Bat, State Secretary for Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, on 9 July (only available in Dutch).