The European transmission system operator TenneT presented a technological concept to accelerate the expansion of the offshore network for wind energy in the North Sea.
With the wind booster, 6 GW of offshore wind capacity will be integrated into the grid as early as 2032, instead of 2035, TenneT said in a press release.
According to TenneT, the wind power booster is the first concrete step towards a long-term meshed high-voltage direct current network at sea and on land.
A direct current meshed network (HVDC overlay grid) on land and at sea ensures long-term security of supply and reduces the economic costs of integrating renewable energies to achieve climate goals.
Did you read?
Siemens Energy to Connect Large-Scale Offshore Wind Project to New York Grid
TotalEnergies announces initiatives to develop the Scottish offshore wind industry
TenneT COO Tim Meyerjürgens said: “… our conceptual and technological innovation for a six gigawatt hub demonstrates a way to dramatically accelerate the achievement of ambitious climate protection goals.
“At the same time, we are laying the foundations for a sustainable interconnection of the DC network. In this way, we sustainably increase efficiency as well as security of supply and make an important contribution to the intelligent coupling of offshore wind power with electrolysers to be built close to production and the gas network.
TenneT suggests that, in order to achieve European climate goals, it is necessary to establish an international mesh DC network at sea and on land in order to carry more energy through the DC lines provided on land.
At the offshore grid interconnection points near the coast, in addition to the energy-intensive decarbonisation processes, an intelligent coupling of the sector with the planned electrolysis projects as well as with the gas infrastructure and the onshore wind power supply is planned.
In order to supply private consumers, industry and planned electrolysis projects with offshore wind power, as well as to allow direct connection with direct current lines on land, the three offshore connections will land near the coast at Heide (Schleswig-Holstein), Wilhelmshaven (Lower Saxony) and in the Bremen region.
Each of these three zones should be integrated as a wind power booster with a two gigawatt connection.
“The concept presented to accelerate the expansion of the use of offshore wind energy while conserving power lines is a building block in the right direction. We need to come up with a viable target concept as soon as possible on how we want to expand our infrastructure by 2045, â€said Energy Minister of Schleswig-Holstein Jan Philipp Albrecht.
“And we have to start planning for that today. We want a European energy transition and that includes an interconnection of the European system which includes not only electricity but also the production and transport of green hydrogen. We will take an integrative and interconnected approach and build strong and sustainable energy infrastructure in the center of Europe. “
