The cutting of the first steel at Heerema Fabrication Group's shipyard in Vlissingen has officially given the go-ahead for the construction of the jacket of the IJmuiden Ver Beta offshore platform. This undercarriage forms the robust foundation of the platform and marks an important milestone for TenneT's new standard for connecting offshore wind farms.
Dutch craftsmanship
The jacket for the IJmuiden Ver Beta offshore platform is being built by Heerema Fabrication Group in Vlissingen. It is one of three jackets that the Dutch company is to manufacture on behalf of the Seatrium and GE Vernova consortium for TenneT’s 2GW programme. Measuring 90 metres in length, 43 metres in width and weighing over 10,000 tonnes, it is one of the largest steel structures ever built in the Netherlands for offshore wind.
The IJmuiden Ver Beta platform will be the first in a series of new 2GW connections that TenneT will be developing in the Dutch and German North Sea over the coming years. This innovative standard makes it possible to transmit large quantities of renewable energy to shore efficiently and with fewer platforms and cables.
Importance of platform for energy transition
The jackets are essential for anchoring the platforms to the seabed and ensure that the topsides above - with transformers and high-voltage installations - continue to operate stably even under the heaviest North Sea storms. The IJmuiden Ver Beta wind farm, with an installed capacity of 2 gigawatts (GW), is expected to be commissioned in 2029 (1GW) and 2032 (1GW) by operator Zeevonk, a joint venture between Vattenfall and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP).
Important step
Jessie van der Linden, 2GW programme director at TenneT: "Today we are taking an important step in the realisation of the first 2GW platform. It makes me proud to see that a Dutch company like Heerema Fabrication Group will build these jackets. Their craftsmanship and experience will contribute to the success of this programme that is crucial for the energy transition and our energy independence. It shows once again that the realisation of the energy infrastructure of the future is also firmly rooted in our own country."
Ceremony
Samuel Wong, Executive Vice President Fixed Platforms at Seatrium: “We are honoured to be TenneT’s trusted partner for this crucial 2GW programme. The steel-cutting ceremony for the IJmuiden Ver Beta jacket is not only a milestone but also a bold step in the energy transition, providing the stable foundation needed for a sustainable energy future. We look forward to strengthening our long-standing partnership to bring TenneT’s vision to life.”
Richard Spronk, CEO of Heerema Fabrication Group: “We are proud to be able to contribute our expertise to TenneT’s 2GW programme. This contract confirms the confidence placed in our craftsmanship and gives us the opportunity to work together on a sustainable energy infrastructure for the future.”
About the 2GW programme
Around 2032, some 75% of the Netherlands' current electricity consumption will be generated by wind farms in the Dutch North Sea. TenneT ensures that the power generated by offshore wind farms is fed into the Dutch high-voltage grid. The 2GW programme is the new standard for connecting offshore wind farms. TenneT is realising thirteen of these connections in the Dutch and German North Sea between now and 2032.
Fewer cables, fewer platforms
The innovative approach to connection ensures that fewer cables and platforms are needed, making construction more efficient and sustainable. In addition, ecological measures are integrated, such as applying sound-damping techniques to the foundation piles and installing 'fish hotels' on the jackets, which contribute to biodiversity in the North Sea.
Source: TenneT
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The steelcutting ceremony for the IJmuiden Ver Beta jacket is not only a milestone, but also a bold step in the energy transition, providing the stable foundation needed for a sustainable energy future.Samuel Wong, Executive Vice President Fixed Platforms at Seatrium
