Due to the fact that Elia, transmission system operator in Belgium and Germany, is legally obligated to connect offshore wind turbines to the grid, the company is planning to invest 3 billion euros in grid development over the next 10 years, writes Trends news portal.
Jacques Vandermeiren, the newly elected CEO at Elia, said that the company is planning extra high voltage connections to France, the Netherlands, Germany and the United Kingdom.
Mr Vandermeiren said: “No network administrator can face these challenges alone. We aim for the support from the European Investment Bank, but also look to other potential investors, as shareholders of the wind farms.”
[mappress]
Offshore WIND staff, July 19, 2012; Image: elia