National Grid ESO Selects DNV GL as Lead Partner in Offshore Coordination Project for Great Britain

National Grid ESO has appointed DNV GL as a lead partner in the Offshore Wind Coordination project in Great Britain.

The project will analyze a coordinated approach for offshore grid development and shape the future national strategy of Great Britain’s offshore grid through feeding into the UK Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy’s Offshore transmission network review, which also involves other parties, such as the UK regulator, OFGEM.

With an installed capacity over 10 GW of offshore wind, the UK will soon be home to the world’s largest wind farm, Dogger Bank. Offshore wind continues to be a key electricity source for the UK government and supports its commitment for the country to be net zero by 2050.

The project will review and recommend ways to improve how offshore wind farms are connected to the onshore transmission network. DNV GL has been commissioned to assess the viability of a coordinated approach including:

• Assess technology availability (HVDC equipment)
• Analyze technical and regulatory barriers and solutions
• Study implications on power system security and stability
• Develop offshore and onshore grid designs
• Conduct societal cost-benefit analysis of the offshore grid
  

As offshore infrastructure is anticipated to be shared among multiple projects, it is projected that a harmonized development approach will result in optimal utilization of infrastructure, higher integration of offshore wind energy, reduction of carbon emissions and  consumer bills, and provision of operational benefits to the onshore grid.