Optimising transmission infrastructure for accelerated offshore wind

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Offshore wind is growing rapidly with a push for clean, renewable energy in the United Kingdom and atransition towards this direction globally. Offshore wind is predicted to have on average 13% annual growthfrom 2020 to 2050 [1]. Energy generated by wind is the most developed thus far and National Grid'sFuture Energy Scenarios (FES) predict that offshore and onshore wind will increase by 23-33 GW by 2030and a total of 54 GW by 2040 [1]. However, with 16 new generation projects granted to Scottish PowerRenewables alone via the Contracts for (CfD) scheme [2] the onshore electrical grid needs to transformexpeditiously. At present, the grid capacity in Scotland is 6.6 GW, approximately a quarter of the futuredemand [3]. As a result, offshore developers are generating energy that cannot be transmitted due to theonshore transmission infrastructure's lack of capacity. Developers are forced to cease operation and as aresult the GB consumer pays a curtailment cost, which for Scotland was £446 million in 2021-22 [3]. Theelectrical network operators are working hard to reinforce and build new infrastructure with the prescribed94 reinforcements totalling £21.7 billion from the Holistic Network Design report [2]. There is an increasedneed for energy security and independence too, heightened by the conflict in Ukraine which has pressuredgas supplies and increased energy prices within Europe.