Scottish renewable energy developer SSE Renewables is partnering with Dutch pension fund ABP in the latter’s bid for a 4GW wind farm development project in the North Sea that is expected to open for tender by the end of the year.

ABP, which announced its plan to bid for the IJmuiden Ver project in November last year, said it has now found its first partner for the project off the Dutch coast.

“SSE Renewables will take a 50% stake in the wind energy coalition we founded last year, hence the financial part of our bid has now been arranged,” a spokesperson for ABP said.

The €461bn pension fund is still looking for other partners to assist with its bid, including scientists and non-governmental organisations.

The bid is part of ABP’s recently announced ambition to invest €30bn in the energy transition by 2030. Back in 2021, the fund promised to sell all its investments in fossil fuels.

SSE Renewable operates several wind farms off the UK coast and has plans to expand its activities in Europe, North America and Asia-Pacific.

“We wanted a partner that has experience in developing renewable energy infrastructure and has expertise in the field of ecology and biodiversity. SSE Renewables ticks both these boxes,” said Dominique Dijkhuis, responsible for investments in ABP’s board.

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