Multi-Purpose Interconnectors

Why a new generation of interconnector holds the key

Now more than ever we need more renewable energy to make energy cleaner, more affordable, and more secure. The North Sea offers an incredible opportunity for the UK and our European neighbours to deliver huge increases in offshore wind.  But delivering new offshore wind will require more infrastructure, which will have an impact on communities.

The next generation interconnector

Interconnectors already provide a way to share electricity between countries safely and reliably. But what if they could do much more than that? What if interconnectors could become an offshore connection hub for green energy?

Instead of individual wind farms connecting one by one to the shore, multi-purpose interconnectors will allow clusters of offshore wind farms to connect all in one go, plugging into the energy systems of neighbouring countries.
 

Tomorrow’s solution: Offshore wind and interconnectors in harmony

Today, offshore wind and interconnectors operate alongside each other, connecting to the shore individually. In the future, multi-purpose interconnectors could enable offshore wind and interconnection to work together as a combined asset.

Take a look at our interactive infographic below for more detail on the benefits of multi-purpose interconnectors:

A connected future: Why electricity interconnection between Europe and the UK matters

To achieve a cleaner energy future, the EU and the UK need to work closely together on the energy transition. We have so much in common already. We share similar strategic climate targets, including a legally binding approach to net zero by 2050, and our markets have been built together for decades.

Find out more on how we can achieve these ambitious targets

Projects combining interconnections and offshore wind will help reduce the amount of electricity works onshore, meaning that any impact on coastal communities is kept to a minimum. As offshore wind developers are determined to work closely with local communities and to be good neighbours, this is an important consideration for our sector.

Barnaby Wharton, RenewableUK's Director of Future Electricity Systems

Net zero
Our plans
75GW of offshore wind needed by 2050 to meet the UK’s net zero target75GW
150% increase of installed capacity needed to meet EU and UK offshore wind targets by 2030150%
We have connection agreements in place for 6.4 GW of interconnector capacity6.4GW
Which could connect up to 12.8GW of offshore wind12.8GW

Nautilus

Nautilus Interconnector are launching plans for a new Multi-Purpose Interconnector that could supply enough electricity to power around 1.4 million UK homes.

Our interconnectors

By 2030 90% of the energy imported imported by our interconnectors will be from zero carbon energy sources. Find out more information about our current and future interconnector projects.

LionLink

A first-of-its-kind electricity link to connect offshore wind between the UK and the Netherlands.