With a view to enhancing energy security in the Netherlands the government has decided to set up what is being referred to as the Dutch Gas Hub [Gasrotonde Nederland]. To achieve this gas stocks need to be created. The intention of TAQA Energy and the Ministry of Economic Affairs is for a gas storage reservoir to be created in the old Bergermeer gas field underneath Bergen http://www.gasopslagbergermeer.nl/cusimages/pdf/Infographic%20locaties%20gasopslag.pdf.
In order for the project to succeed a location needs to be found for the wells. The intention is for this location to be in Bergen. In addition, an installation will be needed to compress and process the gas and TAQA believes that the Boekelermeer close to Alkmaar is the perfect spot. The idea is to refill the almost empty gas field with gas from Russia. This will guarantee the supply of energy in the future to various parts of north-west Europe. The Ministry of Economic Affairs has declared this project to be of national importance and it therefore falls under the National Coordination Scheme [Rijkscoördinatieregeling] (RCR). The State is therefore the competent authority when it comes to the planning procedures to be followed and the permits. It is no longer possible to extract gas from the Bergermeer gas field. TAQA Energy wants to breathe new life into the gas field in the coming years by using it to store gas. Underground gas storage helps to ensure that sufficient gas is available at all times and in all places for a reasonable price. On top of this natural gas is the cleanest fossil fuel. Gas storage will help create a more flexible energy supply and with that the incorporation of renewable energy. Energy from renewable sources such as solar and wind is not available all the time and natural gas can therefore be used as an alternative to produce electricity.
My role in this tender is to assist the tender manager, from one of the 4 parties, and particularly to examine the complexity of the project, the construction sequence, the installation of large and very heavy components (60 tons) and to see how we can use 3D software and other software packages to manage the processes of this complex project.