UK backing for 66kV offshore cables

The scheme, partof its Offshore Wind Accelerator (OWA) initiative, aims to spur designs thatwill move the sector away from using 33kV cables on UK Round 3 projects, inorder to cut the number of substations needed offshore and curb transmissionlosses.

OWA developersDong, E.ON, Mainstream Renewable Power, RWE Innogy, ScottishPower,SSE, Statkraft, Statoil and Vattenfall – which together hold 77%(36GW) of the UK's licenced capacity – reckon 66kV is the "optimalintra-array voltage" for future offshore wind farms. 

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