UK energy regulator Ofgem has shortlisted bidders who will compete to own and operate the offshore electricity transmission links for three major North Sea wind farms off Great Britain’s east coast.

A field of five bidders, the biggest since 2019, will be looking to compete over transmission links which connect offshore wind farms East Anglia Three, Inch Cape, and Dogger Bank C into Great Britain’s power grid. 

The five bidders are Diamond Transmission Partners, Equitix, Gravis Sosteneo Consortium – formed by Gravis Capital Management and Sosteneo Fund, John Laing, and Transmission Capital Partners, a bidder consisting of International Public Partnerships, Transmission Capital Partners, and Transmission Investment Holdings Limited.

With a combined estimated value of £3.5bn ($4.68bn), the pre-built connections, which consist of onshore and offshore cables, converter stations and substations, connect power generated by North Sea wind to the grid, providing electricity to millions of homes.  

“Recently, we’ve seen how geopolitical events can impact both energy security and investments. Ofgem’s OFTO regime not only helps boost British energy security but also offers a safe and steady asset for their portfolios,” said Beatrice Filkin, Ofgem’s director of major projects.

She added that, through the OFTO regime, Ofgem is attracting investment into the UK to support a stable, clean-energy system while ensuring consumers get a good deal.

This is the 13th Ofgem-run tendering round. Since its launch in 2009, the OFTO regime has seen winning bidders invest over £10bn ($13.38bn) in links connecting 28 offshore wind farms. Ofgem anticipates bringing up to £6bn ($8bn) of OFTO assets to market each year in the run-up to 2030.

Later this year, Ofgem plans to launch Tender Round 14. However, the specific assets have not yet been confirmed.