Netherlands Offshore Wind Energy Act (Wet Wind op Zee)

Country / jurisdiction: Netherlands · Year: 2015 · Status: In force · Level: National · Type: Voluntary

Netherland’s Offshore Wind Energy Act was adopted on 24 th of June 2015 and entered into force on 1 st of July 2015.

The Act was implemented to simplify and accelerate the decision making process for the realisation of offshore wind projects in an effort to enable country to meet its 2020 renewable energy targets.

Under the Act, the government takes over responsibility from offshore wind project investor regarding spatial planning arrangements and environmental assessment of the proposed plants. Additionally, the Act stipulates, that the responsibility for offshore grid connection falls on the government, not on the project developer. In results, the government is responsible for choosing a location for the proposed plant, and assure that construction and operation of the plant is aligned with all governmental institutions and that it will receive grid connection.

Project developers are obligated to obtain permit for the realisation of the project. Under the new law, participation of the project in the offshore wind tender is considered as a part of that process.

Official source: http://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0036752/2015-07-01