LionLink announed as first-of-its-kind electricity link to connect the Netherlands and UK's offshore wind farms

LionLink could connect wind farms to the electricity grids of both countries via a subsea high voltage electricity cable, called a multi-purpose or hybrid interconnector. The development would be the first of its kind for the UK and the Netherlands, and the first step towards an integrated electricity grid in the North Sea.

The announcement was made as a part of the North Sea Summit in Ostend (Belgium) where UK Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Grant Shapps, and Dutch Energy Minister, Rob Jetten, expressed their support for the LionLink project. It is an important milestone in realising the full potential of the North Sea as Europe’s green energy powerhouse. The UK and EU have a combined target for 110GW of installed offshore wind capacity by 2030, which will make a major contribution to both energy security and climate targets across the region.

LionLink will benefit from the strong and established long-term partnership between the UK and the Netherlands and supports the broader objective of North Sea countries to secure sustainable long term energy security for Europe and the UK by connecting renewables via interconnection.

Manon van Beek, CEO TenneT, said: “It is our conviction that offshore hubs configured in a meshed DC grid must form the backbone of the North Sea powerhouse. This is a view that is increasingly shared, and for us, it is more than a vision of the future. In fact, we are already doing it by kicking off this ground-breaking LionLink project right now. It is a first step and a great opportunity to learn as the offshore grid takes shape. “

Ben Wilson, President National Grid Ventures, said: “Connecting wind farms to multiple markets simultaneously is a game changer for energy infrastructure and brings us one step closer to realising the enormous green energy potential of the North Sea. [...] We now need the right political, legal and regulatory framework to make it happen and establish a mutually beneficial North Sea grid to deliver a cleaner, more secure and more affordable energy future for British and European consumers.”

LionLink is a multi-purpose interconnector, which is designed to link offshore wind farms simultaneously to neighbouring markets via sub-sea interconnectors.