A consortium comprising pension fund ABP, pension investor APG, and wind energy developer SSE Renewables has signed a Realisation Agreement with Transmission System Operator TenneT for the Dutch offshore grid connection of the IJmuiden Ver Alpha wind farm. Located over 60 kilometres off the Dutch coast, this wind farm will be the first to be connected by TenneT using the new 2GW direct current standard and is expected to be commissioned by the end of this decade.
The Realisation Agreement allows for the development and construction of the grid infrastructure needed to connect the wind farm to the Dutch high-voltage grid. Electricity generated by the wind farm will come ashore at Borssele and be converted to alternating current at a converter station, enabling transportation on the high-voltage grid to end users. TenneT's offshore grid connection is expected to be operational by the end of 2029.
In June 2024, the consortium of ABP/APG and SSE Renewables won the tender to develop the IJmuiden Ver Alpha wind farm, which will have an installed capacity of 2 gigawatts (GW). The tender criteria placed a strong emphasis on making a positive contribution to nature. In response, the consortium proposed a range of measures to mitigate ecological impact and enhance biodiversity. Additionally, in collaboration with Naturalis Biodiversity Center, ABP/APG and SSE Renewables will conduct research and monitor how wind farms can contribute to the protection and strengthening of the ecosystem.
