The offshore transmission assets connects the Robin Rigg East and West offshore wind farms to the national grid. The first Offshore Transmission Owner (OFTO) Licence to be awarded under the competitive tender process managed by energy regulator Ofgem, for the licensing of high voltage links with offshore wind farms in Great Britain.
THE BACKGROUND
Offshore wind generation is a success story for the UK. Long-term government support has underpinned innovation and investment in the sector, helping to drive down costs while contributing to decarbonisation of the economy. The Government intends to build on the UK’s leading position with an aim to produce 40GW of offshore wind energy by 2030, up from c. 10GW in 2020. The UK has provided more support for offshore wind than any other country in the world and we anticipate that the technology will play a key role in helping the UK meet net zero by 2050.
To support this increase in offshore renewable energy generation, the Government identified that a new approach to developing transmission networks would be required and developed the offshore transmission regulatory regime. The Company recognised this opportunity and strategically positioned itself as one of the very few original consulting parties to Ofgem on the regime in 2009.
About Robin Rigg OFTO
The project relates to the connection of the Robin Rigg East and West offshore wind farms located in the Solway Firth, 12km off the coast of Cumbria. The OFTO assets comprise the onshore substation and undersea cables connecting the 90MW Robin Rigg East and 90MW Robin Rigg West offshore wind farms with the onshore grid network.
The OFTO licence is held by an INPP company, which acquired the link from E.ON, the wind farm owner, E.ON.
Facts
Project capital cost
£78.5m
Energy generation capacity supported
90mw
Homes powered by renewable energy
117,000
SDGs supported
THE OUTCOME
Project highlights include:
- Operational and immediately yielding with no construction or refinancing risk
- 20-year availability-based revenue stream with protected downside whereby potential deductions will be capped at 10% of base revenue in any year
- Returns generated are fully linked to UK RPI and are not subject to any revenue or penalty exposure to windfarm performance or credit
- Revenues are contracted by a subsidiary of National Grid, NGESO, in their statutory ring-fenced role as the National Electricity Transmission Systems Operator and protected by the Energy Administration rules (Energy Act 2004)