Accelerating the energy transition
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The wind farm Hollandse Kust Noord
CrossWind, a joint-venture between Shell and Eneco, has developed and operates the Hollandse Kust Noord subsidy-free offshore wind project.
Where ambition meets the North Sea, we engineer the future of energy.
In the restless hum of offshore wind, where steel meets sea and ambition hangs in the salt heavy air, CrossWind is the owner and operator of the Hollandse Kust Noord offshore wind farm, a 759 MW of installed generation capacity in the Dutch North Sea, developed and realized in 2023 and operated through an 80/20 joint venture between Shell and Eneco. At HKN we don't announce the future; we deliver it, with the prove that a nation's energy system can be engineered, not only imagined, into existence.
An intelligent wind farm
The wind doesn’t always blow consistently. So how can a wind farm provide electricity when there is little wind? CrossWind and its partners are exploring five different innovations designed to address these challenges. Through these innovations, an offshore wind farm could be capable of providing more constant electricity regardless of the wind conditions.
Intelligent wind turbines
CrossWind and its partners are exploring a range of technologes that can help wind turbines in a range of conditions. Using real-time data, intelligent wind turbines can respond to changing conditions within seconds and help keep stability across the energy grid.
Addressing the wake effect
The wake effect describes how wind can slow after hitting a turbine, affecting those situated further afield. CrossWind is looking at ways of using real-time data to reduce this across the entire wind farm.
Offshore solar
What about times when there is simply not enough wind to turn a turbine? CrossWind and its partners are experimenting with floating solar panels that could sit alongside the wind turbines and help deliver more consistent energy.
Storing energy
How can you store excess energy in times of low demand to supply it in times when demand is high? CrossWind and its partners are exploring energy storage solutions of batteries and even a hydrogen plant on location that produces and stores hydrogen and is able to convert the hydrogen electricity when needed.
Research & integration
CrossWind is looking at opportunities to integrate these innovations within the wind farm. We have commissioned further research to assess its feasibility. Our aim is to help the world to build intelligent wind farms that can align. Supply it with the demand of renewable energy and to further power the transition into a lower carbon future.
Renewable Energy Power Generation
Frequently Asked Questions
CrossWind installed 69 wind turbines, each with a capacity of 11 MW. Most of these wind turbines are more than 1 km apart.
The Dutch government determined that Hollandse Kust Noord should have a maximum of 100 wind turbines with a maximum tip height of 251 metres above sea level and a minimum capacity of 6MW. CrossWind has built larger, powerful wind turbines that resulted in 69 turbines that generates the same amount of power. This increased the efficiency of the wind park reduced costs and saved impact on nature.
CrossWind installed a capacity of 759 MW. This equates to a production of at least 3.3 TWh per year. This annual energy production will fulfil some 2.8% of the electricity demand in the Netherlands and is equivalent to the energy consumption of approximately 1 million households.
The wind farm will affect the habitat of birds, bats, fish and marine mammals. That is why we adhere to the HKN Permit requirements and the Wind Farm Site Decree. We applied measures for birds and bats to limit any adverse effects, such as shutting down the wind turbines under certain circumstances.
News
Hydrogen milestone for the Netherlands
With the arrival of the BaseLoad Power Hub in Eemshaven harbour, in the northeast of the Netherlands, a new milestone has been reached for the Dutch energy transition and the development of the regional Groningen Hydrogen Valley. The innovative installation is the first platform for hydrogen production and storage designed and built for offshore conditions. On October 3, CrossWind—a joint venture of Shell and Eneco—handed over the platform to its new owner DOT for further research into hydrogen production.
Construction of the Base Load Power Hub (BLPH) hydrogen production-battery storage platform completed
The construction of the Base Load Power Hub (BLPH), the first hydrogen production and storage platform designed and built for offshore conditions, has been completed. The innovative project was developed by CrossWind, a joint venture of Shell and Eneco.
