Allocating rights and permits
In December 2004, the Dutch Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management published a licensing scheme for offshore wind farms on the Dutch continental shelf. This scheme is covered by the Public Works and Water Management Act (Wbr). The Wbr policy rules list all requirements applicable for a construction permit.
Applications
In the period 2004 – 2009, project developers and investors could apply for a permit for a self-chosen offshore location in the North Sea.
The minimum data to be provided by the construction permit applicant were:
- Border coordinates of the projected wind farm
- Type and design of the wind farm
- 'Utility and necessity' of the wind farm in the NEEZ
- Impact of rightful use of the sea by others
- Environmental impact
- Construction plan
- Maintenance plan
- Safety plan
- Marking and signalling plan
- Emergency plan
- Indication on the period of intended commercial operation
- Decommissioning plan
- Design assessment certificate of the wind turbines
Twelve permits granted
By the end of 2009, a total of twelve building permits had been granted to initiators. Parties which acquired a permit were able to submit a bid for the requested level of production subsidy.
Future wind farms
The Dutch government is working on a new scheme for future wind farms for the time frame from 2010 onwards. The Government’s goal is to allocate locations for the further development of wind energy offshore. The Ministry of Economic Affairs is currently investigating how to relate the issuing of rights for developing the location and applying for permits.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs has investigated the different options for allocating areas for the development of wind energy. This has led to two options for the allocation of locations, i.e. larger areas (concessions) or smaller areas of 200 to 300 MW each within the wind areas offshore (more in line with the present approach). In both options the Minister expressed the intention of establishing close links between the allocation of locations and the granting of subsidies.
Advisory Taskforce Offshore Wind Energy
A Task Force Offshore Wind Energy, established by the Minister of Economic Affairs in May 2009, advised the Minister of Economic Affairs on the financial base for offshore wind energy and on preferred methods of cooperation between the public and private sector, with the the goal of realising the target of 6000 MW offshore wind energy generation by 2020. The recommendations were presented to the Minister in May 2010.
More information
- Website Overview Dutch licensing policy (Dutch only)
- Overview granted building permits (pdf)
- Website Advisory Taskforce Offshore Wind Energy (Dutch only)
