Minister aims to double offshore wind farm capacity: AD

Climate minister Rob Jetten wants to invest billions of euros in offshore wind farms in order to double current capacity, the AD reported on Friday, quoting cabinet sources in The Hague.

The paper said an additional 750 to 800 300 metre high wind turbines will be placed in new wind farms in the North Sea, boosting the amount of electricity generated by 10 gigawatts.

The plan, which is aimed at helping the Netherlands beat 2030 clean energy targets, will be discussed at Friday’s cabinet meeting, the paper said.

The new wind farms will primarily provide energy for industry located in the Botlek and North Sea Canal areas, so they can become less reliant on gas.

Locations have already been worked out off the Zuid-Holland and Noord-Holland coast, and above the Wadden islands, the paper said.

Much of the funding will come from the €35 bn climate fund set up by the new government for green energy projects.

The government will pick up the tab for getting the energy to shore, while private investors and energy firms will develop the wind farms themselves, broadcaster NOS reported.