Ofgem has announced the shortlist of bidders competing to own and operate two windfarm transmission links.
The regulator confirmed today (3 August) that Diamond Transmission Partners, Mari Energy Transmission and Transmission Capital Partners are all in the running for the Galloper and Walney Extension links, which are the final projects to be tendered under the fifth round of the Offshore Transmission Owner (OFTO) regime.
The bidder shortlist for the other windfarm links in the fifth round – Dudgeon, Race Bank and Rampion – was announced in February.
The assets in the fifth round have an estimated value of £2 billion and will connect 2.3GW of generation capacity to the grid.
In a statement, Ofgem said there is “strong competition to own and operate the links, which will help keep costs low for consumers”.
All the bidders will now go through to an invitation to tender stage, and after that, Ofgem will appoint the preferred bidder for each link.
Last week, three companies were named as the preferred developer’s for Galloper’s new renewables base in Harwich.
The Ipswich-based company RG Carter has been appointed as preferred bidder for the construction of the base building itself, while Jackson Civil Engineering Group has been chosen to build the access road.
Farrans Construction has been selected to build and install the pontoon.