1. Eneco and Equinor have withdrawn from a 4GW offshore wind tender in the Dutch North Sea.
2. The tender is for building permits at two sites within the IJmuiden Ver wind farm zone.
3. Eneco cited supply chain issues, increased raw material costs, uncertainty around power prices, and high borrowing rates as reasons for their withdrawal.
Dutch utility company Eneco and Equinor have pulled out of a 4GW offshore wind tender in the Dutch North Sea due to supply chain issues, increased raw material costs, and uncertainty around power demand and pricing. The tender, which opened in February, aims to award building permits for two sites within the IJmuiden Ver wind farm zone. Eneco operates four offshore wind farms in the Dutch North Sea and was planning to bid for the new 4GW wind farm project. However, the challenges in the business case have led the company to withdraw from the tender. Eneco has suggested that the Dutch government re-evaluate the structure of offshore wind tenders to mitigate risks, and limit the size of tenders to around 1GW. Despite Eneco’s withdrawal, the government remains committed to expanding wind capacity in the Dutch North Sea from nearly 5GW to around 21GW by 2031. Multiple builders have shown interest in the project, but the number of bids to be submitted remains uncertain in light of changing market circumstances.