Optimising transmission infrastructure for accelerated offshore wind

随着英国清洁、可再生能源的推动以及全球向这一方向的过渡，海上风电正在迅速发展。预计从2020年到2050年，海上风电的年平均增长率将达到13%。风能是迄今为止最发达的能源，国家电网的未来能源情景（FES）预测，到2030年，海上和陆上风能将增加23-33吉瓦，到2040年将增加54吉瓦。然而，仅苏格兰可再生能源公司就通过合同（CfD）计划获得了16个新一代项目，陆上电网需要迅速转型。目前，苏格兰的电网容量为6.6吉瓦，约为未来需求的四分之一。因此，由于陆上输电基础设施的容量不足，海上开发商正在产生无法传输的能源。开发商被迫停止运营，因此英国消费者支付了削减成本，苏格兰在2021- 2022年的削减成本为4.46亿英镑。电力网络运营商正在努力加强和建设新的基础设施，从整体网络设计报告中获得了94项强化措施，总计217亿英镑。对能源安全和独立的需求也在增加，乌克兰的冲突加剧了这一点，乌克兰冲突给欧洲的天然气供应带来了压力，并推高了能源价格。

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.