Ofgem to launch Offshore Transmission Owner Tender for over 1.7 GW offshore wind farms

UK energy market regulator Ofgem is set to launch the tender of Offshore Transmission Owner (OFTO) Tender Round Seven (TR7) for two wind projects - the 900 MW Moray East and the 857 MW Triton Knoll offshore wind farms. TR7 will enable bidders to compete to own the transmission assets of two offshore wind farms.

The 900 MW Moray East offshore wind farm is located approximately 22km off the Caithness coastline in Northern Scotland and expected to go live in 2022. The project is jointly owned by Diamond Green Limited (33.4%), Moray Offshore Renewable Power Limited (33.3%), Delphis Holdings Limited (23.3%) and China Three Gorges Limited (10%).

The 857 MW Triton Knoll offshore wind farm is located within the Greater Wash, approximately 20 miles off the coast of Lincolnshire and 28 miles from the coast of north Norfolk. The project is jointly owned by RWE Renewables (59%), J-Power (25%) and Kansai (16%).  The facility comprised of 90 MHI Vestas V164-9.5 MW turbines which are capable to provide enough electricity to meet the energy needs of up to 800,000 average households annually.

The two projects are expected to worth over GBP1.3 billion (US$1.7 billion).

The competitive round will open on November 30, 2020.