Implementation agreement for two large wind farms signed by Ministry of Economic Affairs

01-07-2010 | press release

Minister Van der Hoeven (Economic Affairs) and the companies ZeeEnergie CV and Buitengaats CV signed an implementation agreement on 1 July 2010. With this the companies, both initiated by the German BARD Group, commit themselves to building two large wind farms some 55 km north of the island Schiermonnikoog, north of the Dutch mainland. The combined capacity of the future farms will amount to 600 megawatts, enough to supply electricity to some 660,000 households. The selected companies submitted the best proposal within the Wind at Sea Tender issued by Minister Van der Hoeven.
 
The Wind at Sea Tender is part of the regulation 'Incentive for Production of Sustainable Energy' (SDE). The subsidy rendered is a maximum amount. The actual subsidy amount will depend on future production and electricity rates. The subsidy will be paid out over a period of 15 years. The regulation is implemented by NL Energy and Climate, an NL Agency division of the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs.
 
A total budget of 4.5 billion Euros was available for the Wind at Sea Tender. The submitted project proposals have been assessed and classified by NL Energy and Climate. Besides the currently committed subsidy there is still budget left over. This remaining budget will be offered to a number of parties that have submitted proposals for the tender as well. With this another 100 megawatts of wind power at sea is expected to be realized.
 
The European Commission will assess the subsidy decisions within the European Framework for Environmental Support. In the unlikely event of the construction of the wind farms not taking place, the implementation agreement stipulates that the signing companies are liable for a fine of 20 million Euros each. According to the agreement, the construction of the wind farms has to have started before 1 August 2013.

Source: Ministry of Economic Affairs