Now more than ever we need more renewable energy to make energy cleaner, more affordable, and more secure. The North Sea offers an incredible opportunity for the UK and our European neighbours to deliver huge increases in offshore wind. But delivering new offshore wind will require more infrastructure, which will have an impact on communities.
The next generation interconnector
Interconnectors already provide a way to share electricity between countries safely and reliably. But what if they could do much more than that? What if interconnectors could become an offshore connection hub for green energy?
Instead of individual wind farms connecting one by one to the shore, offshore hybrid assets (OHAs) will allow clusters of offshore wind farms to connect all in one go, plugging into the energy systems of neighbouring countries. This is what our proposed LionLink and Nautilus interconnectors will do.
Tomorrow’s solution: Offshore wind and interconnectors in harmony
Today, offshore wind and interconnectors operate alongside each other, connecting to the shore individually. In the future, offshore hybrid assets could enable offshore wind and interconnection to work together as a combined asset.
We now call this type of infrastructure an offshore hybrid asset (OHA), but we used to refer to it as a multi-purpose interconnector (MPI). We changed it because we work so closely together with Europe, it made sense to use the same terminology.
Take a look at our interactive infographic below for more detail on the benefits of this approach:
Offshore Hybrid Assets (OHAs)
See how OHAs will work, and how our proposed LionLink and Nautilus interconnectors are the first step towards an integrated North Sea grid.
The power of partnerships in the North Sea
The North Sea has the potential to become Europe's green energy 'powerhouse', but only if we work together.
Vital connections: How electricity interconnectors strengthen security of supply
In our latest document, we also examine how a new generation of offshore hybrid assets (OHAs) will help to unlock the full potential of offshore wind, supporting the UK’s net zero ambitions and speeding up the clean energy transition.
