Background

Most North Sea states plan to substantially increase the share of offshore wind energy in the coming years. The electricity produced by offshore wind farms needs to be transmitted to the onshore electricity grid. So far, the majority of the wind farms is connected via individual park-to-shore cables to the onshore transmission system.

However, with the increasing distance from shore and the increasing scale of offshore wind farms, new approaches are necessary. The intermittent character of wind energy, the scarcity of adequate cable routes and the high costs raise the need for a more coordinated approach that would involve the clustering of wind farms as well as the connection of wind farms to two or more countries. Next to being more efficient, these projects would from the stepping-stones for a transnational offshore grid. Such a North Sea offshore grid would contribute to the achievement of an internal energy market and ensure the security of supply. Due to these benefits, the development of a transnational offshore grid is under active considerations of the North Sea states.

Several companies have recently called for stronger political support of the Member States to achieve the offshore grid. The momentum for the offshore grid has come! More information

Although the benefits of a transnational offshore grid are widely recognised, the focus of the current regimes is on the installation of radial connections. The aim of the conference is therefore to point out the existing legal and techno-economic barriers and to develop solutions of how to address the most important obstacles and how to enable a transnational North Sea offshore grid.