Europe's wind power plant: ambitious plans to connect wind farms

Transmission system operators in the North Seas have presented the results of a pilot study focused on developing a shared European offshore grid in the North Sea. The study says that using the North Sea as Europe’s power plant will play a key role in securing independent, affordable and decarbonised energy supplies for the continent.

Over the past three years, transmission system operators in the North Seas (the North Sea, Irish Sea and Celtic Sea) have worked together to develop offshore infrastructure in the region through the so-called Offshore Transmission System Operators Collaboration (OTC). The aim is to significantly increase the installed capacity of wind farms in the North Seas.

”Europe’s energy transition will not succeed without developing the wind potential of our seas and the grids that connect wind farms to the coast,” the heads of the participating transmission system operators said at the WindEurope 2025 conference.

The first joint study shows how a regional approach to developing offshore grids can bring economic and environmental benefits to Europe. The analysis includes a grid map showing new cross-border interconnections.

All new interconnector projects are assessed as part of a wider regional grid, including areas for new wind farms. This is an important step towards optimising the development of transmission lines in the North Sea in line with plans to build wind farms farther offshore. The necessary upgrades to onshore transmission systems are covered in other planning documents.

A joint planning process

As part of the collaboration, the operators intend to submit a package of new transmission line projects for the 2026 Ten-Year Network Development Plan (TYNDP). These projects could serve as the basis for joint discussions on cost sharing between the participating countries. In addition, transmission line planning should take place at regional level, leading to stronger coordination.

The operators stress that developing robust offshore infrastructure is vital to Europe’s energy future. With sustained political support and closer cooperation, Europe can advance its ambitious plans to build an interconnected energy system in the North Sea and take a leading position in offshore renewable energy.