Greater Gabbard OFTO
OperationalOffshore GridGB500 MW132 kV62.09 km2010
Basic information
9 fieldsAlso Known As
Greater Gabbard OFTO · Greater Gabbard offshore transmission system · Greater Gabbard offshore electricity transmission system · Greater Gabbard Offshore Transmission Assets
Status
operational
Capacity
500 MW
Project Company
Type
offshore grid
Transmission Model
Developer Build & Transfer
Expected Life
25 years
Website
Supply Chain (4)
Project Timeline (41)
28 Oct 2020Regulatory Other
On 28 October 2020, Greater Gabbard OFTO plc formally agreed and signed a Statement of Common Ground with East Anglia ONE North Limited and East Anglia TWO Limited concerning interactions between the Greater Gabbard OFTO export cables and the proposed East Anglia ONE North and East Anglia TWO export cable routes. The parties committed to enter into a future cable crossing agreement after consent, continue consultation so Greater Gabbard OFTO’s technical requirements can be reflected in detailed design and crossing methodology, and exchange as-built coordinates and design information necessary to plan safe crossings of the existing Greater Gabbard OFTO transmission assets.
4 Apr 2019Maintenance Other
On 4 April 2019, Equitix Investment Management, as owner of the Greater Gabbard offshore transmission assets, awarded EDS HV Group a 15‑year operations and maintenance contract for the Greater Gabbard OFTO system. The turnkey O&M agreement covers the two offshore substations, the onshore substation at Leiston, and the associated 132 kV HVAC subsea export and inter-platform cables and grid connection, including marine coordination, provision of crew transfer vessels, high-voltage safety management and 24/7 network surveillance using James Fisher’s Offshore Wind Management System, with the aim of maximising availability of the Greater Gabbard OFTO network.
4 Dec 2015Stake Transaction
On 4 December 2015, Balfour Beatty sold 33.3% of its interest in the Greater Gabbard Offshore Transmission (OFTO) project to funds managed by Equitix for a cash consideration of GBP 25.5 million. The transaction reduced Balfour Beatty’s holding in the OFTO while bringing Equitix, an infrastructure fund manager, in as an equity investor in the Greater Gabbard offshore transmission assets, which comprise one onshore and two offshore substations and over 150 km of subsea cable.
Funds managed by Equitix acquired from Balfour Beatty (33.3%)
2014Stake Transaction
In early 2014, Balfour Beatty acquired the high-voltage offshore transmission link serving the 504 MW Greater Gabbard offshore wind farm under Ofgem’s offshore transmission tender scheme. This acquisition marked Balfour Beatty’s first offshore transmission investment and established its ownership interest in the Greater Gabbard OFTO assets, which include one onshore and two offshore substations and more than 150 km of subsea cable.
Balfour Beatty
Nov 2013Regulatory Other
In November 2013, Ofgem’s final cost assessment set the transfer value for the Greater Gabbard offshore transmission assets at approximately £317.1 million (£317,115,267), establishing the price at which the assets would transfer to the Greater Gabbard OFTO and forming the basis for allowed OFTO revenue and associated local offshore tariffs.
25 Sept 2013Public Consultation
Authority: Ofgem · Licence: Publication of draft cost assessment report and consultation on Greater Gabbard OFTO licence (assessed transfer value)
On 25 September 2013, Ofgem published its draft cost assessment report for the Greater Gabbard transmission assets, launching a consultation on the associated OFTO licence and confirming an assessed transfer value of £317,115,267 as the economic and efficient cost of developing and constructing the assets.
26 May 2013Regulatory Other
DNV KEMA Ltd completed an ex-post assessment for Ofgem E-Serve of the costs incurred in developing the Greater Gabbard offshore transmission assets, comparing the Indicative Transfer Value (ITV) with the developer’s proposed Final Transfer Value (FTV). The study reviewed variation orders and certain 33 kV circuit breaker allocations and took a position on whether these costs and any delay-related costs were economically and efficiently incurred, informing Ofgem’s determination of the final transfer value for the Greater Gabbard OFTO assets.
Apr 2013Regulatory Other
Authority: Ofgem · Licence: Draft offshore transmission cost assessment report issued for developer review (Greater Gabbard)
In April 2013, Ofgem issued a draft cost assessment report for the Greater Gabbard transmission assets to the developer for factual comment and to the preferred bidder for information, marking the near-final stage of the OFTO cost assessment process before public consultation.
Sept 2012System Testing
The Greater Gabbard offshore transmission assets, comprising the offshore substations, export cables and onshore substation connection into National Grid at Leiston, completed construction and were fully commissioned in September 2012, marking the end of the transmission system commissioning period.
10 Sept 2012Construction Other
DNV KEMA’s ex‑post assessment records 10 September 2012 as the Final Project Completion date for the Greater Gabbard offshore transmission assets, marking the end of construction and commissioning of the two offshore substation platforms, three 132 kV subsea export cables, the 132 kV inter‑platform cable and the Greater Gabbard 132 kV onshore substation connecting to National Grid at Leiston.