Prinses Amaliawindpark

Princess Amalia Wind Farm (Prinses Amaliawindpark), formerly Q7, is a 120 MW offshore wind farm located about 23 km off IJmuiden in the Dutch North Sea. The site comprises 60 Vestas V80‑2.0 MW turbines on steel monopile foundations in water depths of 19–24 m and an offshore high‑voltage substation that aggregates power for a 28 km, 150 kV export cable to shore. The project is notable as one of the earliest offshore farms to secure fully non‑recourse project finance, a structure closed in October 2006 with senior lenders including Rabobank, Dexia and BNP Paribas and export credit support from EKF. Construction work led by Van Oord and Vestas proceeded rapidly once permits were in place: foundations and transition pieces were installed in 2006–07, turbines were erected through 2007 and the farm reached commercial operation in 2008. The development benefited from proven, conservative technology rather than the largest available turbines, reflecting a consenting lead time that predated construction. Operational history has been straightforward; the farm exports at 150 kV to an onshore station near Wijk aan Zee / IJmuiden under TenneT’s grid management. Asset upkeep has included remedial works such as a 2017 export‑cable reburial. Ownership and commercial arrangements have evolved through sponsor restructuring and service contracts; Eneco is the owner/operator and in 2026 appointed Deutsche Windtechnik as maintenance partner for the remaining life. Princess Amalia remains a compact, early‑era North Sea project that demonstrated risk allocation and finance approaches later adopted by larger offshore developments.