Plans to connect vast amounts of future offshore wind energy to the national grid were firmed up on Monday in a move that could help connect enough wind-generated electricity to power the equivalent more than 10M homes by 2020.
The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) and regulator Ofgem announced a final opportunity to comment on the new regulatory framework to connect offshore renewable projects to the onshore grid. The regime will ensure offshore cable connections are delivered on time and at reasonable cost to maintain an effective and secure grid. Tenders for the new regime are due to be launched in the summer.
The UK will need to generate as much as 30-40% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2020 in order to hit EU renewables targets. Offshore wind is expected to make a significant contribution, with 8GW already planned and potentially up to a further 25GW.
“This is a key building block in delivering the offshore grid we will need by 2020,” said Energy and Climate Change minister Mike O’Brien.
“The UK already leads the world in offshore wind and with Government assessing the potential for much more, we need a grid which can be built and run in the most cost effective way.”
The Government’s proposals will create new offshore transmission licences which will be granted through a competitive tender process managed by Ofgem. Successful bidders for the licences will become Offshore Transmission Owners.
Ofgem chief executive Alistair Buchanan added: “The infrastructure needed to connect new offshore renewables has never before been constructed on this scale. Opening this up to competitive tender ensures it can be delivered more quickly and cost-effectively. This is a huge opportunity - for new entrants and companies already active in the GB market - to invest in these assets under a long-term and low-risk regulatory regime.”
The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) and regulator Ofgem announced a final opportunity to comment on the new regulatory framework to connect offshore renewable projects to the onshore grid. The regime will ensure offshore cable connections are delivered on time and at reasonable cost to maintain an effective and secure grid. Tenders for the new regime are due to be launched in the summer.
The UK will need to generate as much as 30-40% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2020 in order to hit EU renewables targets. Offshore wind is expected to make a significant contribution, with 8GW already planned and potentially up to a further 25GW.
“This is a key building block in delivering the offshore grid we will need by 2020,” said Energy and Climate Change minister Mike O’Brien.
“The UK already leads the world in offshore wind and with Government assessing the potential for much more, we need a grid which can be built and run in the most cost effective way.”
The Government’s proposals will create new offshore transmission licences which will be granted through a competitive tender process managed by Ofgem. Successful bidders for the licences will become Offshore Transmission Owners.
Ofgem chief executive Alistair Buchanan added: “The infrastructure needed to connect new offshore renewables has never before been constructed on this scale. Opening this up to competitive tender ensures it can be delivered more quickly and cost-effectively. This is a huge opportunity - for new entrants and companies already active in the GB market - to invest in these assets under a long-term and low-risk regulatory regime.”
Source: The New Civil Engineer
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