Google and Shell have signed a historic Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) aimed at extending the operational life of the Netherlands’ first offshore wind farm, the 108 MW Shell NoordzeeWind.
This is the first time a corporate PPA has been used to extend the lifespan of an offshore wind farm. Under the agreement, Google will purchase all the electricity generated by the facility, ensuring at least four more years of operation beyond the originally planned decommissioning date.
Thanks to this deal, Shell has secured the necessary permit extensions and funding for critical upgrades, preventing the premature shutdown of this key clean energy asset.
For Google, this is part of a broader renewable energy strategy in the Netherlands, where the company has already supported over 1 gigawatt of clean energy capacity through similar contracts.
Industry experts believe this innovative approach to extending the life of aging wind farms could serve as a model for other projects approaching the end of their operational lives.
