TenneT, an electricity transmission system operator (TSO), and DONG Energy, an integrated energy firm, have jointly signed an offshore grid connection agreement for the Borssele 1and 2 wind farm in the Dutch province of Zeeland.
The first grid connection deal under the Dutch tender system will allow transmission of power from Borssele wind farm of DONG Energy to Borssele Alpha platform of TenneT.
DONG Energy secured the public tender from the government for the first two areas in Borssele of 700 MW, in July, 2016.
TenneT will aid in the physical offshore grid connection and will integrate renewables into the energy system at low cost.
TenneT CEO Mel Kroon said: “Because TenneT, and not individual parties with commercial interests, is responsible for all offshore network connections, we have been able to carry out standardization leading to the desired cost savings for Dutch society.
“We have also started the planning and licensing processes already two years ago and integration of offshore electricity systems into our own high voltage power grid on land is of great added value."
The grid connection Borssele consists of two platforms, with each holding a capacity of 700 MW, will be operational in 2019 and 2020, respectively.
As an offshore grid operator in the Netherlands, TenneT will develop a minimum of 3,500MW of offshore-connections till 2023.
With the help of stakeholders of offshore wind industry, TenneT has designed new standards new standards for the offshore grid between 2014 and 2016.
Siemens Gamesa will provide 94 8MW turbines to the project, which will be operational by the end of 2020.
TenneT senior manager offshore Netherlands Marco Kuijpers said: “By signing this agreements we, for the first time, formalize the full connection of an offshore wind farm to the Dutch grid.
“According to plan our first offshore grid connection will be operational in 2019, in order for DONG Energy to deliver the wind energy through our high voltage grid to the Dutch households.”