Dutch Climate and Green Growth Minister Sophie Hermans has included LionLink, said to be the first direct-current hybrid interconnector, in the country’s latest Offshore Wind Energy Development Framework. LionLink will use the offshore grid connection of Nederwiek 3 offshore wind farm in the Netherlands to connect to both the Dutch and the UK onshore high-voltage grids.
The interconnector can also be used as an additional high-voltage link to exchange electricity between the countries.
With LionLink now added to the offshore wind development framework, TenneT may now make investments in the project, which the Dutch transmission system operator (TSO) is realising in close cooperation with UK partner National Grid Ventures (NGV).
Before the hybrid interconnector can be realised, several steps still need to be taken, including the Ministry of Climate and Green Growth taking a decision on the details of the market design for wind farm developers in the tender procedure for Nederwiek 3, TenneT said in a press release on 23 December 2024.
Furthermore, new arrangements for market coupling between the European Union and the United Kingdom are needed for the effective operation of the new interconnector, according to the Dutch TSO.
The offshore wind development tender for Nederwiek 3 is planned to be launched in 2026, when the Dutch government will also award the Nederwiek 2 site and likely the Nederwiek 1B site whose tendering has been postponed.
