European TSOs launch Eurobar Initiative for Standardised Offshore Grids
Seven European transmission system operators have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the launch of Eurobar, an initiative for interconnecting offshore wind platforms across Europe. The aim of Eurobar is to efficiently and securely integrate offshore wind power into the European power grid, starting from current regulation and projects (e.g. point-to-point connections) and prospectively evolving to an interlinked offshore network or “busbar alike system”. The concept is modular and is designed to be implemented autonomously by international partners. In that regard, striving for international standardisation of interfaces and technology is key.
Offshore wind energy plays a key role in the European Union’s striving for climate neutrality. The EU Commission projects an installed capacity of up to 300 GW of installed wind power by 2050 in order to reach the climate goal of the Paris agreement. European TSOs have already shown a shared commitment for a sustainable and reliable integration of offshore wind energy. The Eurobar initiative gives additional proof of this commitment.
Eurobar aims to support Europe and its TSOs in the secure and efficient connection of offshore wind farms by striving for standardisation of interfaces and technology, reducing the environmental impact as well as interconnecting offshore wind clusters. Thus, the Eurobar initiative’s mission is to develop and implement a joint approach for offshore infrastructure systems connecting the future offshore capacities to Europe’s transmission system. Moreover, it follows the idea that interfaces will be standardised for the upcoming generation of offshore connection technologies, making them “offshore grid ready”. The parties highlight that these measures can be taken step-by-step and will be implemented when economically sound and technically needed.
“Eurobar makes a constructive contribution to European plans for offshore development,” says Dr Hans-Jürgen Brick, CEO of Amprion. “It is a multinational framework for existing ideas, which need to be connected and translated into sustainable and innovative projects. Cooperation and exchange are key to the success of our initiative, therefore it is and remains permanently open to interested new parties.”
Eurobar partner:
- 50Hertz Transmission GmbH, Germany
- Affärsverket svenska kraftnät (Svenska Kraftnät), Sweden
- Amprion GmbH, Germany
- RED ELÉCTRICA DE ESPAÑA, Spain
- Réseau de Transport d’Electricité (RTE), France
- Statnett SF, Norway
- Terna - Rete Elettrica Nazionale Società per Azioni S.p.A. (Terna S.p.A.), Italy
