Climate and Energy Minister Rob Gettin and fellow Brit Grant Shapps will announce the news this afternoon at the North Sea Summit in Ostend, Belgium.
North Sea as a resource
It is the first time that a Dutch offshore wind farm has been directly connected to such a connection. The new direct current cable is being developed by national grid operator TenneT and the British National Grid.
“The North Sea will become the largest supplier of green electricity for the Netherlands and large parts of Europe,” Minister Cetin says of the plan. “Close cooperation in offshore wind energy and interconnection between North Sea countries is essential in this regard.”
According to Jetten, LionLink could supply approximately 2 gigawatts of electricity to both countries: “enough to power 2 million homes.”
energy independence
In addition, the new connection also aims to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and increase energy independence in Europe. The security of the power supply is increased by this special connection.
“For example, if there is a surplus of wind energy, it can be shared immediately with countries that are deficient in energy, and vice versa,” explains the Minister of Climate and Energy.
offshore power grid
Connecting offshore wind farms via the first cross-border direct current cable of this size is a new step towards an integrated offshore network in the North Sea.
The plan aims for the Netherlands to achieve around 21 gigawatts of offshore wind capacity by 2030.
