The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) has confirmed that it received no bids in its latest auction to develop an offshore wind farm in the North Sea. Although the government expressed disappointment, officials noted that the result was not unexpected given the current challenges facing the industry.
The tender offered a site located about 60 miles off the Dutch coast, near the island of Texel. The project’s capacity was originally set at 2 GW, but later reduced to 1 GW to lower investment risk and encourage participation. Despite these adjustments, the Nederwiek I-A site—offered without government subsidies—failed to attract a single bid for its construction and operation.
According to RVO, the lack of interest was due to rising costs and lower-than-expected electricity demand. The agency noted that while the offshore wind sector had experienced rapid growth in recent years, it is now undergoing significant structural changes. Similar challenges have been reported in Germany, Denmark, the UK, and Belgium, where auctions were also delayed, canceled, or undersubscribed due to limited investor interest.
“The resilience of Dutch industry, in particular, is lagging behind,” RVO stated. “This makes it difficult for developers to secure long-term power purchase agreements before construction begins, reducing their willingness to invest.”
The government emphasized that it had anticipated the possibility of receiving no bids. In September, the Ministry of Climate Policy and Green Growth warned of this outcome in its updated offshore wind development roadmap.
Authorities are now preparing for a new auction round in 2026, during which they plan to issue permits for 2 GW of offshore wind capacity. Unlike the latest tender, the next round will include government support. Around €948 million (≈$1.1 billion) has already been allocated to the new subsidy program.
The plan will use a Contracts for Difference (CfD) model, which guarantees a minimum electricity price. When the market price falls below the set level, the government will cover the difference, and when it rises above it, profits will be returned to the treasury or consumers.
The Dutch government is currently reviewing potential sites to be offered in 2026 and aims to publish full details of the next auction by January. Officials believe that the revised approach will attract greater investor interest and revitalize the offshore wind sector in the Netherlands.
