This report summarises the findings, makes recommendations and identifies opportunities for government and industry to accelerate the deployment of offshore wind projects in the UK. The recommendations include reducing the time taken to plan and consent offshore wind farms, address major delays for grid connections and reform the remit of the UK’s Office of Gas and Energy Markets (Ofgem) to prioritise clean energy projects.
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In a major milestone for the UK’s energy security and net zero commitments, The Crown Estate announced that it has signed Agreements for Lease for six offshore wind projects which could begin to generate green electricity by the end of the decade and have the potential to generate c.8GW of renewable electricity, enough for more than seven million homes. Signing these agreements represents a significant moment in the UK’s response to climate change and energy security, and further bolsters the country’s thriving offshore wind industry, reinforcing its position as the second largest offshore wind energy generator in the world.
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In July 2022, the country’s electricity system operator, National Grid Electricity System Operator (NGESO), released its ‘Pathway to 2030’ Holistic Network Design (HND). This is part of the government’s Offshore Transmission Network Review (OTNR) efforts to find appropriate solutions in the medium term. The HND sets out a single, integrated design to support the transmission of large-scale offshore wind generation to load centres across Great Britain.
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The Holistic Network Design Report gives detail on the recommended approach for connecting the in scope offshore wind farms, including the needs associated with the offshore transmission network and the onshore transmission network. The HND includes the offshore transmission network, the onshore works essential to facilitate each connection and the network needed to transport the electricity around the country.
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As the UK strives towards its ambitious target of 50GW of offshore wind capacity by 2030, large-scale investment will be required in the offshore wind industry. It is increasingly clear that point-to-point connections between offshore wind farms and the grid will not be efficient for an expansion of this magnitude. Multi-purpose interconnectors combine the transmission of offshore power with cross-border interconnection between the power grids of nearby countries.
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