The design of an analysis methodology for Dutch offshore wind

Abstract

With constant growing energy needs the Dutch government is at a turning point in the energy transition. The chance to make real steps towards a future where energy is completely generated sustainably is now. In order to realise such a future, ambitious targets have to be set. For the near future the Dutch government set the renewable energy generation target at 14 % renewable generated energy in the year 2020 and 16% in the year 2023 (SER, 2013). With the current renewable energy generation percentage of only 4.53% of the total end use energy, the challenge to get to 14% sustainable energy target in 2020 is substantial (leefomgeving, 2013; CBS, 2014). For the offshore wind sector the ambitions are at least as ambitious. In eight years, 2015-2023, the goal is to increase the generation capacity of offshore wind with a total of 3450 MW to a total of 4500 MW (I&M, 2014). For the total energy use in the Netherlands this would mean an increase of 4.9% renewably generated energy by offshore wind alone, in comparison to 2013 energy use and in case only fossil fuel sources would be replaced (CBS, 2014)