TenneT Gives LionLink the Green Light
German Minister Sophie Hermans of Climate and Green Growth has included a new electricity connection between the Netherlands and the United Kingdom in the latest Development Framework for Offshore Wind Energy. This interconnector, LionLink, will be realized via the Nederwiek 3 offshore grid project.
TenneT is now allowed to make investments for LionLink, the first direct current hybrid interconnector. This project connects the Dutch offshore grid connection of the Nederwiek 3 wind farm to the Dutch and British onshore high-voltage grids. The connection can also be used as an additional high-voltage connection to exchange electricity between the countries. LionLink is being realized in close cooperation with the British partner National Grid Ventures (NGV)
LionLink is a very unique HVDC project: it is designed as an "Offshore Hybrid Asset (OHA)", which means it will combine interconnection capabilities with the transmission of offshore wind power. The project involves the construction of subsea HVDC cables between an offshore converter station and the UK and the Netherlands. This offshore platform will be located in Dutch territorial waters and owned by TenneT. It will enable the connection of Dutch offshore wind farms, specifically the Nederwiek 3 wind farm, to the interconnector.
LionLink is designed to supply up to 1.8 GW of electricity, which is enough to power approximately 2.5 million homes. It is expected to strengthen energy security, support the integration of renewable energy, and contribute to the UK and Netherlands' climate and energy goals. The project is anticipated to save UK consumers almost £300 million in its first ten years of operation and provide carbon emission savings in its first year equivalent to taking nearly 600,000 cars off the road.
The project is currently in the pre-application stage, with the application for development consent expected to be submitted in the fourth quarter of 2025. Construction is anticipated to take approximately 4 years. The tender for the Nederwiek 3 offshore wind farm is planned to be launched in 2026. Subject to further approvals and investment decisions, the LionLink project is hoping to be operational in 2030/2031.
LionLink represents an important step towards the development of a more integrated North Sea grid. As an OHA, it demonstrates the potential for combining interconnector functionality with offshore wind transmission, which could lead to more efficient use of offshore infrastructure and support the integration of renewable energy sources.
The UK energy regulator, Ofgem, has already approved the Initial Project Assessment for LionLink, granting it a Pilot OHA regulatory regime in principle.
