The North Seas Countries' Offshore Grid Initiative - Initial ... - Benelux

Germany and Great Britain) and between nations in the development of interconnectors.
However, in showing the potential benefits of the development of a meshed grid over a
radial approach, this report seeks to answer the question of how best to exploit future
offshore generation resources – by continuing to ‘go it alone’, or by ‘doing it together’?
Table 1-1 below presents a generally accepted hypothesis that motivated this offshore
grid study. The cost indications in the table refer only to offshore assets. While the
results of this study may not have conclusively proven the points in the table, the
hypothesis remains sound.
Table 1-1 Exploitation of offshore generation resources
How to exploit offshore generation resources
Scenarios
(Note: both meet
renewables
targets, but in
different ways)
High offshore
deployment
(High levels of new
RES deployed
offshore)
Low offshore
deployment
(CCS, nuclear,
onshore wind and
less offshore
generation than
above)
“Do-it-alone”
Each MS has own
regulatory regime, and
works alone to connect
offshore generation
radially or in national
integrated hubs
More expensive, less
efficient, leading to
possible unnecessary
redundancy compared to
coordinated approach
Less expensive than for
high deployment, as less
generation connected
“Do-it-together”
MSs work together to build
a shared / integrated
network offshore
Relatively less expensive
than do-it-alone
Opportunity to optimise
international network
Benefits from coordination
is smaller as fewer
resources to be connected.
May be some benefits on a
project-by-project basis
1.1.4 The development of plausible grid configuration designs by
2030
In the NSCOGI MoU of December 2010, Ministers asked Working Group 1 (WG1) to identify
plausible grid scenarios for onshore and offshore grid infrastructure in 2030. These were
to be based on the simultaneous consideration of baseline overviews of Government
policies and grid conditions. In this context, ‘scenarios’ are understood as conceptual
offshore grid designs based on plausible market modelling simulations.
Grid cables have a very long life (40 to 50 years) and the location and placement of
offshore wind farms should also be expected to last for a long time, as other generation
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