The Dutch pension fund ABP is to open up its North Sea energy initiative, Noordzeker, to Dutch energy cooperatives.

The pension fund, for those working in government and education, has announced that Onze Noordzeestroom (ONS), which represents 700 energy cooperatives, is joining its Noordzeker initiative.

Noordzeker is operated by a consortium of investors which, along with ABP, includes APG and SSE Renewables. It is hoping to win a government tender to build and operate a wind farm in the North Sea area of IJmuiden Ver, as well as work on biodiversity at sea in partnership with Naturalis Biodiversity Center.

Supporting the energy transition in the Netherlands is one of the spearheads of ABP’s new policy to make €10bn worth of Dutch impact investments, and this latest move aligns with that.

"As a pension fund with three million participants, we believe in the power of together," ABP chairman of the board, Harmen van Wijnen, said.

"We want to operate a large wind farm in the North Sea. This will allow us to ensure not only a good pension, but also affordable and clean energy for our participants and the Netherlands. By giving local energy cooperatives the opportunity to participate, we ensure that Noordzeker benefits not only our pension members but everyone in the Netherlands who wants to participate. Wind belongs to all of us and everyone in the Netherlands should be able to reap the benefits."

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