Based on the assumption that 50 GW can be installed by 2040, the Dutch government has set a target of 70 GW of offshore wind energy by 2050. In addition to power generation, the government also plans to use part of the country's offshore wind capacity for large-scale green hydrogen production in the North Sea.

To make the country's industry and society more sustainable, offshore wind must continue to grow significantly beyond 2030, which is why plans are being drawn up to maximize what is deemed necessary, the government said. From 2030, offshore wind farms will mainly be located further out in the North Sea, hundreds of kilometers from the coast. The government says it wants to create large offshore energy hubs in these remote areas, so not all future wind farms will need to be individually connected to the onshore grid.

The energy center is built far offshore, and several wind farms can be linked together, and the energy they generate can then be transported to land partly as electricity and partly as hydrogen, the latter of which is planned to shift most of the industry from natural gas to green hydrogen. Links can also be established with other North Sea countries through the hub, which will help with security of supply.

On September 16, 2022, the Netherlands and eight other members of the North Sea Energy Cooperation agreed to install at least 260 GW of offshore wind capacity, or more than 85 percent, by 2050, shortly after the Netherlands announced its 2050 target. EU-wide ambition of 300 GW by 2050.

In 2022, we have a firm plan for 2030, said Rob Jetten, the Dutch climate and climate minister. We are also now working on an ambitious plan to 2050. This gives us room to look ahead and work cautiously. Keywords: engineering news, overseas news

70 GW of power is ambitious in the next few years. According to the Dutch government, this aspect will be carefully studied as the increase in the number of offshore wind farms also increases the ecological impact. There must also be enough space in the North Sea for other activities such as fishing and shipping, and the government is looking at how all interests can go hand-in-hand through the North Sea Plan.Editor/XingWentao