APG sets up consortium to bid for 4 GW offshore wind farm

Dutch pension investment company APV is putting together a consortium to develop an offshore wind farm in the Netherlands. The “noordzeker” consortium, is being set up on behalf of APB, the Dutch pension fund. The target of the consortium’s bid is the Ijmuiden Ver wind farm, a project expected to supply 4 GW of electricity. According to APG, this is equivalent to powering five million households. Recently, the Dutch government has signalled its intention to expand wind production in the North Sea, which is expected to meet 75% of Dutch electricity needs by 2030. Bart Saenen, senior portfolio manager for infrastructure at APG, said: “We are excited to take on a prominent role in realising the Netherlands’ offshore wind energy ambitions on behalf of ABP and its beneficiaries.” The bid builds on APG’s experience in investing in wind assets. Saenen added: “We have of course invested in wind energy before, both on land and offshore, also in the Netherlands. But this will be the first time we will be participating in all phases – tender, development, construction and operation – of an offshore project. To this end, we are teaming up with a leading renewable energy developer.”