The European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E) published EU Offshore Network Development Plans (ONDPs). The ONDPs are the first comprehensive cross-border review of existing offshore grid capacity and future offshore grid requirements at sea basin level. They will help to accelerate the expansion of offshore wind and facilitate the deployment of innovative grid solutions to integrate offshore wind power into Europe’s energy system.
WindEurope CEO Giles Dickson and WindEurope Vice-Chair Alfredo Parres attended the launch of the European Offshore Network Development Plans (ONDPs). The ONDPs come on the back of the EU Commission’s EU Grid Action Plan with 14 immediate measures to modernise Europe’s electricity grid and to prepare for the renewables-based electrification of the EU energy system.
The ONDPs translate the EU Offshore Renewable Energy Strategy and the national commitments at the Marienbourg and Ostend Summits into offshore transmission equipment needs and related costs. The plans give visibility to offshore wind developers, investors and the grid equipment supply chain on what offshore grids to expect for each European sea basin by 2030, 2040 and 2050. They’re key to better coordinate the expansion of offshore wind between countries and accelerate its deployment.
Offshore renewables will become the third-most important energy source in the European power system. The EU currently has just under 20 GW of offshore wind. By 2050 it wants at least 300 GW. The ONDPs even see 384 GW offshore renewables potential in the EU by 2050 - and 496 GW in all of Europe. Building all these wind farms will require a substantial expansion of offshore grid capacity. To ensure the most efficient grid buildout possible, future grid connections should be designed at sea basin level rather than at national level. ENTSO-E present 5 different ONDPs – one each for: the North Seas: the Baltic; the Atlantic Basin; the West Mediterranean; and the East Mediterranean and Black Sea.
The ONDPs see significant potential for hybrid offshore wind farms – that have connections to two or more countries. Hybrids could become an important part of Europe’s meshed and interconnected offshore grid. According to the ONDPs 14% of all offshore renewables could be connected as hybrids.
The ONDPs are a legal requirement under the EU’s revised TEN-E regulation. They will be integrated with national onshore grid development plans. After today’s first launch the ONDPs will be reviewed every two years to bring them in line with technological development and progress on grid development.
