A novel methodology for life estimation and performance evaluation of offshore wind farms high voltage AC export cables is presented. The method applies Dynamic Temperature Prediction (DTP) analysis using a Thermo-Electrical Equivalent model (TEE). Furthermore, it is suggested how the cable lifetime might be inferred based on the accumulated ageing effects. Afterwards, a sensitivity analysis of the seabed temperature variations is performed. Finally, a holistic procedure for calculating more accurately the electrical power losses of the cable is presented. Results show that an important increase of the total installed power, or cross-section reduction, can be achieved compared to traditional sizing methods.

Governments across the globe are finally recognising the urgent need to jointly address climate change. This has led to the commitments under the Paris Agreement to curb greenhouse gas emissions and keep global warming well below 2 °C. While the global energy transition is gaining momentum, there is far too little progress to stay within the 2 °C target. To accelerate the shift to a sustainable energy system, we need innovative ideas that go beyond business as usual.

Europe has been a leader in climate policy in general, and in the development of renewable energy in particular – although other countries are quickly catching up. The European Union has set out to foster renewable energy development and further market interconnection, reducing emissions by 80% to 95% by 2050 in the process.

Offshore wind energy is crucial to this renewable energy future. Boasting a higher generation capacity and more full load hours than onshore wind, the sector has achieved remarkable cost reductions in recent years. The Baltic Sea has great potential in this regard, thanks to a range of favourable conditions like shallow waters, strong winds and short distances to shore.

With 2.2 GW of installed capacity and rising, the offshore wind market in the Baltic Sea is on the cusp of accelerated development. Now is the time to explore state-of-the-art solutions for the connection and distribution of offshore wind energy. A meshed grid is one such solution: an innovative, efficient way to link offshore wind farms while connecting electricity markets. Combining interconnector infrastructure with export cables, a meshed offshore grid in the Baltic Sea would boost system stability and the integration of electricity markets, reduce issues linked to curtailment and ensure a high utilisation rate for cable infrastructure. Moreover, the installation, maintenance and service sector that would be developed around a meshed offshore grid could help the Baltic Sea Region excel in green technologies and innovation while creating jobs for local populations.

While a meshed offshore grid has many benefits, it is also characterised by a multilateral and capital-intensive nature, the complexity of which needs to be alleviated through a guiding hand from policy-makers. Keeping in mind the long lead times of offshore wind and grid projects, it is imperative that interest in meshed offshore grids translate into bold policy-making and reinforced transnational cooperation soon, before the region is further locked into a suboptimal energy system.

The Baltic Sea Region has the potential to be a major player in innovative offshore wind technologies and grid solutions. It is high time to start planning for that future, together.

Offshore wind power development is expected to play an important role in meeting the EU climate targets. To integrate offshore wind power, advanced offshore infrastructures such as meshed grids are suggested to optimise the grid development. Meshed offshore grids refer to integrated offshore infrastructure where offshore wind power hubs are interconnected to several countries as opposed to radial connection linking the wind farm to one single country and market. However, development of meshed architectures is hindered by the legal and regulatory barriers.

Earlier research has identified the lack of cooperation and misalignments in national legal and regulatory frameworks as being the main risk factors in integrated offshore network investments. The purpose of this article is to investigate whether a supra-national TSO could facilitate regional cooperation and coordinated investments to develop meshed offshore grids.

Several studies have discussed the case of North Seas, but the Baltic Sea region has had less attention despite the large offshore wind development potential. In this paper, a multi-disciplinary approach combining legal dogmatics and regulatory economics is used to identify the existing barriers and the possible solutions. The Baltic Sea countries are used as illustration. We suggest legal and regulatory recommendations that comply with the EU energy policy targets of sustainability, competition and reliability.

Research conducted within the Interreg Baltic InteGrid project is intended to facilitate the establishment of a meshed offshore grid connecting offshore wind farms (OWFs) and national electricity markets in the Baltic Sea. To this end, the project partners have prepared three sets of recommendations for EU and national level stakeholders. This report elaborates on the partners’ recommendations for the policy and regulatory framework.

This publication is a summary of the major findings and insights of the Baltic InteGrid project. Implemented from 2016 to 2019 to explore the potential of meshed offshore grids in the Baltic Sea Region, this project contributed valuable research and analyses relevant to the further integration of regional electricity markets and security of supply around the Baltic Sea. The project activities were designed to correspond to the priorities of the European Union’s (EU’s) energy policy, which aims to unify the energy markets of the Member States and facilitate a safe and sustainable transition to renewable energy

This research paper takes a detailed look at potential benefits and pitfalls associated with joint OWP projects. The central research questions can be summarised as follows: Which effects might arise from joint OWP projects for the participating countries? Which hurdles exist for the realisation of joint projects? Under which circumstances do international cooperations on the development and funding of OWP projects make sense? Which measures might help to facilitate the realisation of joint OWP projects?

One of the main technologies for renewable power production, offshore wind electricity (OWE) is an integral component of decarbonising the European power sector. The costs of OWE highly depend on the regulatory frameworks for the provision of wind farms and offshore grids. Regarding generation investment, the distribution of decisional responsibilities and risks between the generators and the regulator is vital for a costefficient deployment of offshore wind farms (OWF). Targeted OWE instruments which offer predictable revenues to generators promise significant advantages over decentralised approaches based on the Energy-only market concept. Putting out contracts for building and operating OWFs in locations predetermined by the regulator to competitive tender, appears to be a suitable approach in many cases.
A coherent regulatory framework for meshed grid investments must address network expansion requirements in a cost-efficient manner. In this context we recommend considering four elements: firstly, the harmonisation of the methods for distributing connection costs between transmission system operators (TSOs) and OWE generators; secondly, sharing network development expenses between the involved TSOs in a transparent way; thirdly, similar grid access tariffs for OWE operators; and fourthly, establishing a coherent regulatory regime for the TSOs’ cost recovery at the offshore meshed grid level. Future regulatory frameworks for offshore meshed grid will require a strong engagement of policy makers and regulators. The role of European institutions to pave the way to stable and harmonised institutional frameworks is critical.
This report presents the main findings of three comprehensive working papers developed within the scope of Baltic InteGrid (Integrated Baltic Offshore Wind Electricity Grid Development), an interdisciplinary Interreg research project, bringing together experts from Member States present in the Baltic Sea Region to coordinate the implementation of these policy objectives. The goal of the Baltic InteGrid project is to track current regional, national, and European energy developments and propose recommendations to optimise regulatory frameworks.

The Baltic InteGrid project is an interdisciplinary research initiative designed to facilitate transnational cooperation and optimise offshore wind development in the Baltic Sea Region (BSR). The following analysis provides project stakeholders with up-to-date information on current market conditions for the development of a regional meshed grid. The report highlights relevant findings from the market analysis of the offshore wind energy transmission industry, with a particular focus on Europe and the Baltic Sea. It first provides a general overview of the European offshore wind energy industry, including information on relevant regulatory regimes, installed capacity, and technology trends. It then presents component-specific market overviews for high-voltage alternating current (HVAC) cables, high-voltage direct current cables (HVDC), converters, transformers, and substation foundations, as well as for the main operation, maintenance, and service (OMS) activities.