Wind Energy – Second Tender
The Dutch government has reaffirmed that ensuring access to clean and affordable electricity across Europe remains a top priority amid ongoing geopolitical uncertainty.
To accelerate the energy transition, the government has announced plans to expand offshore wind development through an additional tender in 2026. The announcement was made on April 3 by the Minister for Climate and Green Growth.
The new tender will cover the IJmuiden Ver Gamma B site, with a planned capacity of 1 gigawatt (GW). Government support will be provided through an expanded Temporary Offshore Wind Support Scheme (TOWOZ), with a total allocation of €7.9 billion.
Recognizing the time required to prepare high-quality and competitive bids, the government has adjusted the tender timeline. The original schedule proved too tight, and the opening of the joint tender process has been postponed from September to November of this year. The addition of a new site increases the complexity of the process, making extended preparation time essential to ensure robust and well-structured proposals.
The 2026 tenders will still fall under the temporary TOWOZ support mechanism. From 2027 onwards, the Netherlands will transition to a Contracts for Difference (CfD) model. Under this system, revenues are stabilized by compensating producers when electricity prices are low, while requiring contributions when prices are high. This approach is expected to enhance price certainty and create a more stable investment climate for offshore wind projects.
