Build of the 2 GW onshore converter station

At the Heerema Fabrication Group yard in Vlissingen, a major piece of steel engineering is currently taking shape: the foundation for the Zeevonk offshore substation platform. This platform will be the first in a series of new 2 GW grid connections that TenneT will deploy in the Dutch and German North Sea in the coming years. This standardised approach enables the efficient transmission of large volumes of renewable electricity to shore, using fewer platforms and cables. The structure, known as a jacket, forms the backbone of offshore wind infrastructure. Current work focuses on ensuring the jacket is fully plug-and-play ready before installation at sea.

It is one thing to talk about offshore wind, but seeing the actual infrastructure rise from the ground is something else entirely. Our Zeevonk team visited the Maasvlakte this week to see the work on the 2GW IJmuiden Ver Beta onshore converter station.

TenneT and BAM Nederland are currently building the massive structures that will soon house the high-voltage equipment. It is impressive to see these buildings taking shape.They are the vital link between our offshore wind farm and the national grid. This visit makes it very clear: Zeevonk is becoming a reality.

Once completed, these structures will house the high-voltage equipment necessary to convert power from the offshore wind farm into a format suitable for the national grid. Integrating 2GW of offshore wind requires more than just engineering. It requires seamless cooperation. TenneT & Zeevonk, a joint venture between Vattenfall & Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, are collaborating closely to ensure project’s success.