Together with the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, the transmission system operators (TSOs) 50Hertz, Amprion and TenneT have presented initial plans for projects to connect wind farms in the North Sea. In future, the connection lines of wind farms with a total capacity of 10 gigawatts are to be linked to one another. In addition to connecting the wind farms to the German grid, these power lines will also make it possible to exchange electricity with neighbouring European countries, e.g. Denmark and the Netherlands. This will create hybrid interconnectors that facilitate increased international electricity trading. This supraregional trade will increase German and European security of supply and welfare. The offshore interconnection will also improve the utilisation and efficiency of power lines.

Federal Minister Robert Habeck said, “The energy transition will benefit enormously from increased connectivity with neighbouring countries. Additional grid connections mean that more low-cost electricity from renewable energy sources can be imported to Germany. At the same time, we will have less of a need to curtail electricity generation. The plans presented today show how we will transform the energy system in cooperation with our European neighbours. Offshore wind energy will play a decisive role in the climate-neutral energy system.”

Parallel to this planning, the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action has commissioned a study on the overall benefits of an international electricity grid in the North Sea. The findings show that connecting offshore wind farms results in reduced greenhouse gas emissions, greater security of supply, increased spatial efficiency, and considerably reduced costs.

The project will mean significantly more electricity from renewable sources can be integrated into the pan-European system. This increases Germany’s security of supply, as additional amounts of electricity can be imported from neighbouring countries during periods of high electricity demand. This reduces the demand for electricity from fossil-fuel power plants. Connecting offshore wind farms thus prevents greenhouse gas emissions in the electricity sector. In periods of high demand, electricity prices are lower than they would be without these connecting lines. When electricity demand is low gas emissions in the electricity sector. In periods of high demand, electricity prices are lower than they would be without these connecting lines. When electricity demand is low gas emissions in the electricity sector. In periods of high demand, electricity prices are lower than they would be without these connecting lines. When electricity demand is low and the production of electricity from renewables is high in Germany, renewables-based electricity can also be exported. This way, the curtailing of German wind farms can be avoided.

The next step is to introduce the TSOs’ plans to connect offshore wind farms into official German and European planning processes. The TSOs of neighbouring countries will jointly lay the foundation for an international offshore network in the North Sea.