Netherlands to strive for 70 GW of offshore wind by 2050

The Dutch government on Friday announced an ambition for 70 GW of offshore wind energy by 2050.

The Netherlands is already working on plans to deliver 21 GW of offshore wind by 2030, which represents about 75% of its electricity consumption at the moment.

The government is now setting out plans up to 2050, looking at about 50 GW by 2040 and around 70 GW by 2050. This is seen as a maximum scenario, with the exact capacity needed to be considered in the coming years. Climate and energy minister Rob Jetten said this will provide for sustainable electrification of a large part of the country and the generation of green hydrogen for the industry. The government also promised to take into account other North Sea interests such as fishing and nature.

The post-2030 vision focuses on energy islands that can connect several wind farms located further from the shore and send both electricity and hydrogen to the mainland. The hubs can also be used to connect to other North Sea countries, improving the security of supply.

Earlier last week, the nine member countries of the North Seas Energy Cooperation (NSEC) committed to at least 260 GW of offshore wind energy by 2050. In May, Germany, Denmark, Belgium and the Netherlands pledged to reach at least 65 GW of capacity in the North Sea by the end of the decade and at least 150 GW by 2050.

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