Initial Project Assessment for the Offshore Hybrid Asset Pilot Projects - decision
Decision
- Publication date
- Industry sector
- Offshore Transmission Network
- Transmission Network
Offshore Hybrid Assets combine interconnection with the transmission of offshore wind, providing the potential for coordination and efficiency benefits compared to standalone point-to-point interconnectors and radial offshore wind connections.
The application window for the Offshore Hybrid Asset regulatory pilot scheme closed in October 2022. Two projects were were assessed under the Initial Project Assessment:
LionLink, to the Netherlands, a proposed 1.8GW connection to an offshore converter station on a Dutch offshore transmission platform; and
Nautilus, to Belgium, a proposed 1.4GW connection to an offshore converter station on the Princess Elisabeth Belgian energy island.
The Initial Project Assessment considers the needs case of the projects for GB consumers, and assesses whether to award the projects a regulatory regime in principle. We consulted on our minded-to position on the Nautilus and LionLink projects in March-May 2024.
We consider that both Nautilus and Lion Link are likely to be in the interest of GB consumers, and therefore we have decided to grant these projects a Pilot OHA regulatory regime in principle.
We have conducted further analysis to address stakeholder feedback. The rationale, methodology and results of that analysis, are contained within the decision document.