Green light to TenneT for investments in LionLink interconnector

LionLink, the much anticipated interconnector between the Netherlands and UK, has been included in the former’s latest Offshore Wind Energy Development Framework, marking a step forward for the ‘first of its kind’ interconnector project.

LionLink has been included by Dutch Climate and Green Growth Minister Sophie Hermans in the Framework, enabling Dutch TSO TenneT to make investments in the project, which is hailed as the first DC hybrid interconnector.

The LionLink project connects the Dutch offshore grid connection of wind farm Nederwiek 3 to both the Dutch and the UK onshore high voltage grid. The connection can also be used as an additional high voltage link to exchange electricity between the countries.

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Marco Kuijpers, director Large Projects Offshore at TenneT said, “TenneT welcomes this next step in the development of LionLink.

“The hybrid interconnector between the Netherlands and the UK provides benefits for both countries, as it ensures improved security of supply, higher cable utilisation rates and efficient use of space in the North Sea.

“In addition, this hybrid interconnector stimulates competition in the energy markets so that the affordability of electricity improves for both consumers and industry. Over the next few years, National Grid Ventures, TenneT and the Dutch and UK governments will work together on the next steps to get the connection up and running in 2032.”

The project was announced in April 2023. In November 2024, British energy regulator Ofgem gave approval for its initial project assessment.

Hybrid interconnection and next steps

Regular interconnectors that connect countries via a submarine cable have their own land station where power is converted from direct current to alternating current and to the appropriate voltage level of the country concerned.

LionLink is called a hybrid interconnector because TenneT is developing an offshore grid connection for the Nederwiek 3 wind farm and from the offshore platform a cable will be laid to the Netherlands and to the UK.

The hybrid interconnector brings wind power from Nederwiek 3 ashore, but at the same time forms an interconnector between the UK and Netherlands, linking the Dutch and European energy markets with the UK energy market.

TenneT is developing the connection on the Dutch side while UK partner National Grid Ventures is developing the connection from the UK border in the North Sea to the onshore station in Great Britain.

Before the hybrid interconnector can be realised, several steps still need to be taken. The Ministry of Climate and Green Growth will take a decision on the details of the market design for wind farm developers in the tender procedure for Nederwiek 3. New arrangements on market coupling between the European Union and the United Kingdom are also needed for its effective operation.