Scottish energy giant SSE is set to grow its North Sea windfarm portfolio after bidding successfully for acreage off the Netherlands.
Perth-based SSE said it would move forward with plans for a giant development for which it has won the required Dutch government consent with joint venture partners.
Subject to finalising funding arrangements, SSE and partners expect to develop a windfarm that could produce enough electricity to meet around 7% of current demand in the Netherlands.
It will be developed around 40 miles off the port town of IJmuiden.
SSE said the successful IJmuiden tender marked its first seabed award in the established Dutch offshore wind market, in which it sees significant and sustainable growth potential.
The group added: “The 2GW project (SSE share 1GW) grows SSE's secured offshore wind pipeline to 9.3GW and further progresses SSE's ambition to grow its offshore wind business into carefully selected markets, where it believes attractive returns above hurdle rates can be achieved.”
READ MORE: Energy giant highlights Scottish Government planning delay on key project
SSE will develop the windfarm with investment firm APG, which is acting on behalf of Dutch pension fund ABP.
Stephen Wheeler, managing director of SSE’s Renewables operation said: “Our successful bid is testament to the work the consortium and its partners have undertaken to put forward a compelling set of proposals to sensitively develop our proposed offshore wind project in a manner which will positively contribute to the marine environment while delivering a cleaner and more secure energy system for the Netherlands.
"We now look forward to collaborating with our consortium partners, Dutch authorities, supply chains and other stakeholders as we progress the project."
SSE said the Netherlands represents a complementary and adjacent market to its existing North Sea offshore projects with an established supply chain.
The group’s development pipeline includes the Dogger Bank windfarm off North East England, which it reckons is the largest in the world. SSE plans to develop the Berwick Bank windfarm in the outer Firth of Forth. However, the company was not awarded the required planning consent by the Scottish Government in time to submit an application for revenue support in the latest round.
SSE also plans to develop the Ossian floating windfarm off the Angus coast.
READ MORE: Scottish turbine plant delay highlights energy jobs challenge
It is working on four big projects off Ireland.
SSE claimed the consortium working on the Dutch scheme had proposed an innovative and diverse set of measures that would reduce and mitigate ecological impacts while increasing biodiversity. It said this could help ensure offshore wind is developed in harmony with the surrounding ecosystem.
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules here