Oil major BP submits bid for Dutch offshore wind tender

Oil and gas major BP is bidding in the Netherlands’ zero-subsidy offshore wind tender as part of a €2 billion plan to integrate 1.4GW of offshore wind capacity with the Dutch energy system and industrial sector.

The firm plans to use offshore wind to “electrify industry and mobility”, including to power 500MW of electrolysis capacity to generate 50,000 tonnes a year of green hydrogen, helping to reduce emissions in sectors such as aviation, refining and logistics. 

This includes BP’s own 400,000 barrels a day (b/d) Rotterdam refinery, the production of 10,000 b/d of sustainable aviation fuel, and electric vehicle charging stations with integrated batteries.

Anja-Isabel Dotzenrath, BP’s vice-president for gas and low-carbon energy, said: “Delivering a net zero future demands more than just generating renewable power offshore – we need to create an integrated energy system with renewables at its centre.”

BP is bidding for rights to develop both sites – Site VI and Site VII – in the Hollandse Kust West zone, 53km off the Dutch west coast, with bids rated not purely on financial grounds. 

Bids for Site VI will be assessed on “eco-innovation criteria”, with BP planning to invest €75 million in the marine habitat, data analysis and a research and a hub to advance research and innovation. Site VII bids will be assessed on “systems integration criteria”, with BP supplementing its integrated energy strategy with plans to support the development of the local workforce.

The Hollandse Kust West tenders, which close on 14 May, have attracted bids from a range of companies. Shell and Eneco are bidding for both sites through their SchakelWind and Ecowende JV’s, having bid successfully in the Hollandse Kust Noord offshore wind farm tender in 2020. UK utility SSE has also bid, as have Vattenfall and BASF.

BP is ramping up its low-carbon business, targeting 50GW of renewables capacity by 2030 from 2.5GW in 2019.