SSE Renewables and APG have formed a consortium for participation in the upcoming 4GW IJmuiden Ver offshore wind farm zone tenders. SSE Renewables and APG, acting on behalf of Dutch pension fund ABP, aim for development of a large-scale offshore wind energy project in the Dutch North Sea. Both companies view the Netherlands as a leading market for offshore wind development, supported by ambitious targets and a strong focus on innovation.
The IJmuiden Ver tenders are for the award of permits to develop the four individual 1GW sites within the IJmuiden Ver Zone located approximately 62km off the Dutch coast. The four tenders will have a clear focus on ecological protection and enhancement in the North Sea as well as on optimal integration into the Dutch energy system. Furthermore, Circularity and International Responsible Business Conduct (IRBC) are key priorities for the Dutch government. Criteria and other elements of the procedures are expected to be published in early 2023, with the application window expected to be opened in Q4 2023.
Community involvement
The 50/50 joint venture combines SSE Renewables’ experience in developing, constructing and operating offshore wind farms with APG’s substantial investment experience in renewables and energy transition as well as its strong roots in Dutch society. Both companies have a long tradition of community involvement in their renewable energy development, as well as a track record of deploying innovative technology solutions to their projects. The companies hope to bring their solution-oriented and innovative approaches to achieve important societal goals in the Netherlands and see these tenders as a way to contribute to the renewables ambitions of the Dutch government, thus securing energy supply for Dutch citizens.
ABP is the Netherlands’ largest pension fund and is already invested in onshore and offshore wind energy. Last month, ABP announced its intention to develop offshore wind energy sites in the Netherlands. To realise this, it set up the ‘Noordzeker coalition’ to contribute to plans of the Dutch government to generate approximately 21GW of energy - approximately 75% of current electricity consumption - from offshore wind by 2030. Through Noordzeker, ABP is seeking collaboration with knowledge institutes, industry, societal organizations and national, regional and local governments. APG, in the capacity of ABP’s asset manager, will be responsible for the execution of the Noordzeker coalition goals, in which the consortium (APG – SSE Renewables) will hold a vital role.
"I am delighted that we are partnering with APG through Noordzeker, on the upcoming IJmuiden Ver offshore wind farm zone tenders, given their significant operating experience and their wider investments in the Netherlands. Both partners are experienced innovators and committed to ensuring that offshore wind is developed in harmony with the surrounding ecosystem
Stephen Wheeler Managing Director, SSE Renewables
We look forward to collaborating with APG, Dutch authorities, the industry, NGO’s and other parties concerned – to help secure energy supply for the Netherlands in these turbulent times, drive innovations benefitting energy systems integration, and to continue putting offshore wind at the forefront of fighting climate change."
"We are very excited to partner with SSE Renewables for the IJmuiden Ver tenders next year. Their experience and expertise in participating in these tenders, constructing the assets and operating a very sizable, worldwide portfolio of offshore wind farms make them the ideal partner for APG. The consortium partners are committed to invest a large amount of capital to support the Dutch energy transition, with particular focus on ecological innovation and integration into the broader energy system. The partnership is the first step of many in realizing ABP’s ambitions through its Noordzeker initiative."
Peter Branner Chief Investment Officer APG
Background
The Dutch government has announced that it will award permits for IJmuiden Ver through a comparative assessment with financial bid procedure. All four IJmuiden Ver tenders will have a maximum bid price, the level of which is yet to be confirmed. In addition to this, innovations regarding Ecology, System Integration, Circularity and International Responsible Business Conduct (IRBC) will be crucial criteria in the tender. The consortium is a long-time engagement in which APG and SSE Renewables will innovate for the benefit of securing energy supply for the Netherlands in harmony with the North Sea’s precious ecosystem.
About APG
As the largest pension provider in the Netherlands APG looks after the pensions of 4.8 million participants. APG provides executive consultancy, asset management, pension administration, pension communication and employer services. We work for pension funds and employers in the sectors of education, government, construction, cleaning, housing associations, sheltered employment organizations, medical specialists, and architects. APG manages approximately €547 billion (November 2022) in pension assets. With approximately 3,000 employees working from Heerlen, Amsterdam, Brussels, New York, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing.
About SSE Renewables
SSE Renewables is a leading developer and operator of renewable energy, headquartered in the UK and Ireland, with a growing presence internationally. Its strategy is to lead the transition to a net zero future through the world-class development, construction and operation of renewable power assets and it is building more offshore wind energy than any other company in the world. SSE Renewables is part of SSE plc, the UK-listed integrated energy group which is investing £12.5bn (equivalent to over EUR14bn) over five years, or £7m (equivalent to EUR 8m) a day, to deliver a Net Zero Acceleration Programme to address climate change head on. This includes plans by SSE Renewables to double its installed renewable energy capacity to 8GW by 2026 and ambitious targets to treble capacity to over 13GW by 2031, increasing output fivefold to over 50TWh annually – enough to be able to power around 20 million homes each year. SSE Renewables has a team of around 1,500 renewable energy professionals based across the UK, Ireland, Spain, France, Italy, Greece, the Netherlands, Japan and the USA, all committed to delivering the green energy the world needs now and in the future.