TenneT is pressing ahead with the development of an electricity grid in the Dutch section of the North Sea. For the Borssele wind energy area, TenneT has commissioned Arcadis in a consortium with Pondera Consult to guide the processes regarding the environmental impact report (EIR) and the permit applications.
The Borssele wind energy area is the first of three areas designated by the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs to be developed for the construction of wind farms which will be connected to the onshore grid. In a directional decision, Economic Affairs has appointed TenneT as operator of the offshore grid. This means that TenneT will be responsible for connecting the 3,450MW to be produced by new offshore wind farms. The grid connections at Borssele will be composed of two offshore platforms of 700MW for four lots of 350MW in the Borssele wind energy area. Each platform will be connected to TenneT's onshore high-voltage grid by means of two high-voltage cables (220 kV). TenneT's 380 kV high-voltage substation at Borssele will be expanded for this purpose.