EnBW Eyeing Dutch Offshore Wind Zones

German energy company Energie Baden-Württemberg (EnBW) is reportedly making preparations to participate in the Hollandse Kust Zuid offshore wind tender in the Netherlands.

According to regulatory filings, the energy company set up a Dutch subsidiary, EnBW Wind op Zee, at the end of September for the purpose of participating in the tendering process for the construction and operation of the Hollandse Kust Zuid wind farm zones.

EnBW declined to comment on the issue.

The application period for the Hollandse Kust Zuid I and II zones with a combined capacity of between 684MW and 760MW will start on 15 December and end on 21 December. One permit is granted for each wind farm site, with applications allowed to be made for a permit for each of the two wind farm sites.

Bidders looking to develop the wind farm zones without government subsidies will have a chance to submit their proposals in the first round of the tendering procedure.

If there are no zero-subsidy bids or the received bids do not meet other criteria listed, the government will organise a second round of tenders which will allow subsidies.

The contract for the Hollandse Kust Zuid site I and II is expected to be awarded in the first quarter of 2018.

EnBW is one of two companies, the other being Ørsted, to secure the rights to build offshore wind farms without government subsidies at the latest auction in Germany this April.