Click here to read SEAS Commentary

Below are the salient points from the Terms of Reference

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‍Department for
Business, Energy
& Industrial Strategy

Research and analysis

Offshore Transmission Network Review

terms of reference

Published 15 July 2020

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        1. Background

Energy Minister Kwasi Kwarteng has announced the scope of a review into the existing offshore transmission regime to address the barriers it presents to further significant deployment of offshore wind, with a view to achieving net zero ambitions.......

......The review, launched by Minister Kwasi Kwarteng at a round-table meeting of MPs and other interested stakeholders, will bring together the key stakeholders involved in the timing, siting, design and delivery of offshore wind to consider all aspects of the existing regime and how this influences the design and delivery of transmission infrastructure. Its terms of reference, as agreed with delivery partners and stakeholders in the sector, focus on identifying tactical near-term actions that can be taken and early opportunities for coordination for projects in the short- to medium-term, plus a longer-term strategic review to develop a new regime that can ensure a more coordinated approach for the future.

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       2. Terms of reference

Objective:

To ensure that the transmission connections for offshore wind generation are delivered in the most appropriate way, considering the increased ambition for offshore wind to achieve net zero. This will be done with a view to finding the appropriate balance between environmental, social and economic costs.

The review will be split into 2 main workstreams:

1. The medium-term workstream will seek to:

• identify and implement changes to the existing regime to facilitate coordination in the short-medium term
• assess the feasibility and costs/benefits of centrally delivered, enabling infrastructure to facilitate the connection of increased levels of offshore wind by 2030
• explore early opportunities for coordination through pathfinder projects, considering regulatory flexibility to allow developers to test innovative approaches
• focus primarily on projects expected to connect to the onshore network after 2025

1. The long-term workstream will seek to:

• conduct a holistic review of the current offshore transmission regime and design and implement a new enduring regime that enables and incentivises coordination while seeking to minimise environmental, social, and economic costs
• consider the role of multi-purpose hybrid interconnectors in meeting net zero through combining offshore wind connections with links to neighbouring markets and how the enduring offshore transmission regime can support the delivery of such projects
• focus on projects expected to connect to the onshore network after 2030

....We will publish an update by the end of the year, with a view to providing clarity for an enduring approach in 2021. Policy recommendations and proposed changes to the existing regime will be delivered through the usual consultation process.

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Read the full BEIS announcement :

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/offshore-transmission-network-review

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/offshore-transmission-network-review/offshore-transmission-network-review-terms-of-reference