TSOs unite to build offshore grid future
12 European grid operators reveal a joint plan to boost energy independence through cross-border offshore wind infrastructure.
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Denmark, Copenhagen: Twelve European transmission system operators (TSOs) are joining forces under the Offshore TSO Collaboration (OTC) to develop a shared offshore grid in the Northern Seas, aimed at boosting Europe’s energy security and independence.
Revealed at the WindEurope Annual Event, the pilot study outlines a visionary grid map featuring promising cross-border projects. These are designed not in isolation, but as part of a coordinated North Sea network to maximise cost efficiency, environmental impact, and supply resilience.
Spanning regions including the North Sea, Irish Sea, and Celtic Sea, the initiative supports the Esbjerg and Ostend Declarations, which seek a major increase in offshore wind capacity. The OTC plans to feed key projects into the Ten-Year Network Development Plan (TYNDP) 2026, laying the foundation for joint planning and cost-sharing across nations.
OTC leaders emphasised that accelerating offshore wind infrastructure is essential to achieve a clean, secure, and interconnected European energy system. With wind resources unevenly distributed across countries, cross-border collaboration is vital.
The CEOs also highlighted the vast economic potential of offshore wind, calling for investment in supply chains and manufacturing hubs to support up to 300,000 new jobs.
To maintain Europe’s leadership in clean energy, they urged regulatory alignment, political backing, and a unified sea basin approach. Their message: Europe’s energy future must start at sea.
Source: 50hertz
#collaboration#Energy independence#interconnection#North Sea#offshore grid#Renewables#TSOs#wind power
