Tennet to Award Borssele Alpha Platform Contract in Late 2016

The Dutch Senate has confirmed TenneT’s role as the developer and operator of the Dutch offshore grid.

The Senate approved the amendment of the Electricity Act in connection with the development of offshore wind energy, providing the required legal basis.

TenneT CEO, Mel Kroon, stated: “We are very pleased with the Senate’s decision, which avoids any risk of delays right at the start of the tendering process. The adoption of this amendment to the Electricity Act means that TenneT can now apply the knowledge and expertise gained in Germany in connecting OWFs to the onshore grid, and use it to contribute to the energy transition in the Netherlands. Finalising the design for the offshore platforms required to connect the planned OWFs to the onshore grid is an important step in this process.”

In the coming years TenneT will build five identical platforms with a total capacity of 3,500 MW to transport wind energy to the Dutch onshore grid. The offshore platforms consist of a substructure used to anchor the platform in the seabed, a cable deck for leading the subsea cables from the substructure to the superstructure, and a superstructure (topside) that houses the transformers, switchgear and other technical installations.

The platforms will be constructed onshore and transported by a crane vessel to their offshore destination for installation. The contract for construction and installation of the first platform (Borssele Alpha) and the two cables will be awarded in late 2016. The Borssele Alpha platform is scheduled to be taken into operation in 2019.