WindEurope welcomes the announcement made by Tennet and Energinet.dk at the North Seas Forum on their collaboration to develop the electricity grid offshore, and calls for joint action between industry and TSOs to make it successful.
WindEurope CEO Giles Dickson said “This is a good initiative. Anything that drives future volumes of projects for offshore wind energy is welcome.” To be financially viable, the offshore island proposed by Tennet would require at least 70 GW of capacity connected to it. That requires major engagement and investment by the wind industry. With 12.6 GW currently online, offshore wind energy is set to be the main beneficiary of the MoU between TSOs operating in the North Seas.
Dickson added, “The Tennet Island is a very long-term project, probably beyond 2030. In the meantime, we need to focus on securing the right volumes and grid connections between now and 2030,” referring to the fact that, to date, only three EU Member States have signalled their ambitions for offshore wind after 2020: the UK, Germany and the Netherlands. “Despite having delivered cost reductions ahead of its self-imposed schedule, the industry needs at least 4 GW/year after 2020 to continue reducing costs,” Dickson said.
