Pondera Consult has won a contract to carry out an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for lots VI and VII in the Hollandse Kust (west) offshore wind energy area in the Dutch North Sea.
Pondera will manage the environmental impact assessment, the appropriate assessment, and the assessment for the protection of species in the context of the nature protection law. These decisions on lots VI and VII in Hollandse Kust (west) are planned in early 2020, allowing for the start of the tender in 2021.
Pondera Consult has recently received a similar task from the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate for lot I in the Ten Noorden van de Waddeneilanden wind energy area. The two wind areas have a combined capacity of 2.1GW.
The decision for lot I in Ten Noorden van de Waddeneilanden is expected to be made late 2020, which allows for the tender to start in 2022.
The offshore wind farms are the fourth and fifth wind energy areas for which Pondera Consult will do the preparations, after Hollandse Kust (zuid) and Hollandse Kust (noord).
“We are pleased to support the ministry and Rijkswaterstaat. These farms will add 2.1 GW of wind energy to the 3.5 GW that is already being developed. These are impressive numbers, and we are proud to be able to contribute to that. We are working with several experts within Pondera, but we are also assisted by experienced professionals in institutes such as MARIN, Bureau Waardenburg, Waterproof, TNO and HWE. This varied team of driven experts has all the knowledge and expertise required to make this project another success,” Pondera said.