UK energy regulator Ofgem has announced the shortlist of bidders competing to own and operate the power transmission links for three offshore wind farms.
The three links are the first of five to be tendered under the fifth round of the Offshore Transmission Owner (OFTO) regime, which has an overall estimated value of £2 billion and which will connect 2.3 GW of offshore wind generation capacity to the grid.
The three links are for the Dudgeon, Rampion and Race Bank wind farms off the east coast of England. Ofgem said that the shortlist shows that “there is strong competition to own and operate the links”.
The shortlists for the three tenders include Equitix, Diamond Transmission Partners, Mari Energy Transmission, Transmission Capital Partners, Balfour Beatty investments and Triton Transmission.
Ofgem has shortlisted five bidders for each link.
The bidders will now go through to the final Invitation to Tender (ITT) stage. Following the ITT stage, Ofgem will appoint the OFTO for each link. The OFTO will receive a guaranteed revenue stream for 20 years under the terms of their licence, subject to the availability of their assets.
The second tranche of tender round five – for the Walney Extension and Galloper projects – will start in mid-March, Ofgem said.
