The Crown Estate Launches Offshore Wind Transmission Study

The Crown Estate has commissioned a study into best practice in offshore transmission for offshore wind, building on recommendations from the Offshore Wind Cost Reduction Task Force made last year.

It is envisaged that information gathered from a range of developers, OFTOs, OEMs and other stakeholders such as the ORE Catapult will be collated in order to better understand lessons learned to date, and to develop recommendations on how best practice and industry knowledge regarding transmission can be shared more effectively going forward.

Bringing together expertise and knowledge from across industry will provide a key platform for understanding where efficiencies in transmission can be made in order to contribute to reducing the cost of offshore wind. Ultimately, continuing to drive down the cost associated with developing in the marine environment will be an important factor in the healthy deployment of offshore wind over the short, medium and long term.

Head of New Energy and Technology Martin Simpson said: “The UK has one of the best offshore wind resources in the world but how far we can exploit this potential will depend on a range of factors, one of the most important of which is continuing to drive down costs. Sharing learning and examples of best practice will allow industry to explore solutions that might make transmission more cost effective, bringing down overall project costs and making investment decisions more attractive. We welcome input from across industry as part of this project.”

Adam Bruce, Chairman of the Offshore Wind Programme Board said: “Cost reduction is crucial to encouraging continued investment in offshore wind and transmission is one of the key areas that can make an important contribution. This initiative is an important first step in bringing examples of best practice together to help the industry as a whole build an improved knowledge base for more cost effective transmission solutions. I would encourage all those engaged in the sector to get involved.”

The Crown Estate has appointed technical consultant DNV GL to conduct the study with recommendations likely to be presented to the Offshore Wind Programme Board in spring 2014. To inform these recommendations, an expert panel at the Institution of Engineering and Technology will peer review the findings.

Press release, November 21, 2013; Image: irec