Foreign Investments Europe Investment opportunities Offshore wind
Offshore Wind is becoming an increasingly important factor in the production of renewable energy. A huge increase in installed capacity on the North Sea will be emerging in the coming years. The United Kingdom, Germany and Denmark are developing multiple offshore windparks that will produce thousands of Megawatt (MW) of electricity. The Netherlands is also making a contribution with an ambition of 6000 MW of installed capacity by 2020.
Around 150 companies in the Netherlands are active in offshore wind throughout the entire supply chain ranging from blade production and hydrography (surveying the water) up to foundation constructions and heavy logistics. It is well known that the Netherlands excels in foundations, installation work and logistics. The Northern Netherlands plays an important part in this and also has an excellent logistical position for offshore wind activities due to the presence of the ports of Groningen Seaports and Harlingen Seaport.
Offshore wind is forecast to take the market by storm, and will play an increasingly significant role in the production of sustainable energy. It will come as no surprise that the Netherlands has a wind energy ambition of 6000 MW for the long term. The Northern Netherlands is to play a key role in this, due, among other things, to its strategic location in relation to the wind parks to be developed in the Netherlands, Germany and (parts of) the UK. Moreover, the region has seaports whose depth and facilities offer a favourable starting point for the associated industry. The wind parks can be excellently serviced both in terms of logistics during the construction phase and in the actual Operation & Maintenance phase (O&M).
Enormous education and employment potential
The Northern Netherlands is growing to become a leading energy region; the Energy Valley, with international ambitions. Offshore wind is one of the main priorities, and certainly in relation to employment. Last but not least, there is enormous education and employment potential. A large number of companies in the Northern Netherlands and Noord-Holland is active, or wishes to become so, in the supply chain of offshore wind. This is one of the reasons behind the initiative taken to establish the Northern Netherlands Offshore Wind (NNOW) cluster. NNOW is a cluster of companies jointly striving to achieve an even stronger (international) position by joining forces to supply offshore wind-related products and services.
Healthy impulse
The developments around offshore wind have been given a healthy impulse thanks to the plans by BARD Engineering. This German wind energy company has received billions of Euros subsidy for construction of 600 MW of offshore wind parks, to the north of Schiermonnikoog. That too offers opportunities, particularly for companies in the foundations, logistics, installation and maintenance markets. An added impulse is expected to come from the efforts being undertaken to realise an offshore energy hub in the North Sea, to which numerous (new) offshore wind parks can be connected at a lower cost.
Offshore wind-related companies
Logistics: JR-Shipping, Koninklijke Wagenborg, Wijne Barends, PCU
Innovative enterprise: R.R. Maritime Engineering, Geo Plus, Promorfo, Callidus Group
Knowledge institutions
University of Groningen, Noorderpoort, Northern University of Leeuwarden, Alfa College, Maritime Campus Netherlands MCN, TNO, ECN.
Contact
For more information please contact Allard van Dijk: avandijk@nom.nl or +31 (0)50 521 44 66.