Energy suppliers 'could soon use wind power' - 18/11/2010
Customers of energy suppliers could soon be consuming power from six new offshore wind farms, reports have confirmed.
According to the Financial Times, industry regulator Ofgem has invited bids for a £1.9 billion project to connect the farms to the national grid.
The tender gives the winning companies the right to own and operative transmission links to giant offshore structures, including Gwynt-y-Mor and the London Array, for a period of 20 years.
The Humber Gateway, Race Bank and West of Duddon Sands wind farms will be open to tender in the spring of 2012.
Ofgem chief executive Alistair Buchanan commented: "It is very encouraging that we have seen such strong competition for the first round of transmission links.
"This looks set to continue for the second round and healthy competition will keep the costs of the links as low as possible and give generators confidence that the offshore regime is proving very attractive to investors and is bringing new players into the UK transmission market."
Last month, the regulator warned that Britain will need an additional £200 billion of investment in the cheap energy sector in order to stop the lights going out.
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