The Netherlands and Curaçao sign an agreement on floating wind energy and hydrogen production.
The Ministries of Economic Affairs and Climate (EZK) , the Interior and Kingdom Relations (BZK) of the Netherlands, and the Ministry of Economic Development (MEO) of Curaçao signed an agreement on May 24 to prepare the production of offshore floating wind energy and setting up a hydrogen production chain in Curaçao. The concluded agreement offers the relevant governments, industry and knowledge parties in both countries important growth and innovation opportunities.
This is an excellent opportunity for the Dutch offshore wind industry to expand the knowledge gained in the shallow North Sea with applications of floating wind turbines ‘on the job’.
In addition, it is geopolitically wise to use this knowledge within our own Kingdom and thus strengthen both countries.
NedZero looks forward to working with the parties involved and thanks the relevant ministries of the Netherlands and Curaçao for this opportunity at the start of this promising project.”Jan Vos, chairman of NedZero
Cooperation
The agreement follows an earlier MOU between the Netherlands and Curaçao of May 15, 2023 and arises from the wish of the Curaçao government to achieve a full-fledged energy transition. In addition to local sustainable energy generation, Curaçao also wants to achieve an export position for a broad socio-economic and social impact in terms of sustainable developments and earning capacity for the island.
Curaçao will collaborate on an equal basis with the Dutch government, business community and knowledge institutions to prepare for the production of offshore wind energy via floating wind turbines. Partly with the aim of achieving a scalable hydrogen value chain.
Steps to take
In the coming period, the technical, logistics and operational business case will be coordinated with organizations that are experts in the field of floating offshore wind and the production of sustainable fuels. A chain will also be developed on a limited scale, with the aim of achieving a scalable hydrogen value chain with which the full potential of wind energy in Curaçao (up to 10 GW) can be utilized.
In the Netherlands, this input from the business community will be coordinated through three trade organizations: IRO , the trade association for Dutch suppliers in the offshore energy industry; NedZero , the trade association for wind energy; and NLHydrogen , the trade association for the hydrogen sector.
To this end, as a follow-up to the signing of the agreement, extensive consultations will first take place in July. Delegates then come to Curaçao to make agreements with everyone involved regarding planning and procedure.
Response from the trade organizations:
IRO, NedZero and NLHydrogen are pleased that this agreement has been concluded:
The transition to sustainable energy production requires a major commitment worldwide to the development of floating offshore wind farms that are suitable for deeper waters. After all, that is where a large part of the wind capacity that we desperately need for the energy transition worldwide is located.
It is therefore a unique opportunity to be able to use the knowledge and expertise of Dutch offshore wind within the Kingdom for the production of offshore wind energy using floating wind turbines, and thus enable the set-up of a hydrogen value chain.
Curaçao in particular has a unique set of properties: deep water directly off the coast, deep-sea ports, high wind efficiency and the island is located outside the hurricane region, which makes a public-private partnership between Curaçao and the Netherlands very logical and desirable.
The current geopolitical and therefore economic tensions make it even more important to make optimal use of opportunities together within the Kingdom.
The Dutch industry involved is very keen to connect its knowledge, skills and strength with that of Curaçao. The Dutch industry thanks both governments in advance for making this development possible.”
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The Netherlands and Curaçao sign an agreement on floating wind energy and hydrogen production. source
