Rampion OFTO
OperationalOffshore GridGB400 MW150 kV44 km2018
Basic information
9 fieldsAlso Known As
Rampion Offshore Transmission Owner · TC Rampion OFTO Limited · Rampion OFTO TR5 · TR5 Rampion OFTO · Rampion Offshore Transmission System · Rampion Transmission Assets · Rampion Offshore Transmission Link
Status
operational
Capacity
400 MW
Project Company
Type
offshore grid
Transmission Model
Developer Build & Transfer
Expected Life
20 years
Website
Supply Chain (6)
Project Timeline (19)
Nov 2021Fid Financial Close
In November 2021, International Public Partnerships (INPP), through its Rampion Offshore Transmission Owner investment, reached financial close on the long-term ownership and operation of the transmission link to the 400MW Rampion offshore wind farm off the Sussex coast. This milestone marked the completion of financing arrangements for the regulated OFTO assets, which comprise the offshore and onshore export cables and associated substations connecting the wind farm to the UK national grid.
Nov 2021Revenue Secured
Following financial close for the Rampion Offshore Transmission Owner in November 2021, the project secured its regulated OFTO revenue regime, consisting of an availability‑based, index‑linked revenue stream under an offshore transmission licence. The licence provides an initial 20‑year revenue term, with income contracted via National Grid Electricity System Operator and protected by UK energy regulatory arrangements, giving the Rampion OFTO stable, inflation‑linked cash flows for operating the transmission link that delivers power from the Rampion wind farm to the national grid.
12 Nov 2021Stake Transaction
Ofgem completed the competitive OFTO tender for the Rampion transmission assets by granting an offshore transmission licence to TC Rampion OFTO Limited, a consortium of Transmission Capital Partners Limited Partnership and International Public Partnerships Limited. This decision effected the transfer of the Rampion offshore transmission assets—comprising the offshore substation platform, two approximately 17km 150kV offshore export cables, two approximately 27km 150kV onshore cable circuits, the new onshore substation at Twineham, and two 400kV cables to National Grid’s Bolney substation—from the developer, Rampion Offshore Windfarm Limited (ROWL), to the regulated OFTO licensee.
TC Rampion OFTO Limited acquired from Rampion Offshore Windfarm Limited (ROWL)
28 Sept 2021Regulatory Other
On 28 September 2021, Ofgem published its draft cost assessment for the Rampion offshore transmission assets, establishing a Final Transfer Value (FTV) of £279.5 million. This FTV represents Ofgem’s assessment of the economic and efficient cost of the Rampion transmission system to be used in determining the value of the assets to be transferred to the successful OFTO bidder, ahead of granting the offshore transmission licence.
21 Jul 2021Regulatory Other
On 21 July 2021, Grant Thornton UK LLP completed and issued its ex‑ante cost review report for the Rampion Offshore Wind Farm transmission assets, prepared for Ofgem’s OFTO cost assessment process. The review concluded that the total capital costs of the transmission assets, excluding interest during construction, amounted to approximately £362.7 million, providing an independent basis for Ofgem’s subsequent determination of the transfer value to the eventual Rampion OFTO licensee.
Dec 2018Onss Commissioned
According to the ex‑ante cost review for the Rampion offshore wind farm transmission assets, the Rampion transmission system, including the new onshore substation at Twineham and associated 400kV cables linking it to National Grid’s Bolney substation, was fully operational and commissioned by the end of 2018. These commissioned assets form the core of the Rampion OFTO, transmitting power stepped up from 150kV offshore to 400kV for integration into the National Electricity Transmission System.
Dec 2018Commercial Operations Full Power
The Rampion offshore transmission assets, comprising an offshore substation platform, two approximately 17km 150kV subsea export cables, two approximately 27km 150kV onshore cable circuits, a new onshore substation at Twineham and two 400kV cables to National Grid’s Bolney substation, were fully commissioned and operational by the end of 2018. These assets, which form the Rampion OFTO transmission system linking the 400MW Rampion offshore wind farm 13km off the Sussex coast to the UK grid, were expected to deliver around 98% availability, covering both planned and unplanned maintenance.
Apr 2018First Power
Following installation, jointing, testing and commissioning of the third export cable (cable 3), the Rampion transmission assets began transmitting electricity from the Rampion Offshore Wind Farm to shore in April 2018, marking first power export on this replacement export circuit within the Rampion OFTO system.
Feb 2018Cable Installation Complete
Installation of export cable 3 for the Rampion transmission assets was completed when VBMS laid the submarine cable in February 2018, enabling subsequent jointing, testing and commissioning before the cable began transmitting electricity from the wind farm in April 2018.
Oct 2017Procurement Other
Following faults in the original LS export cables for the Rampion transmission system, the developers decided in October 2017 to procure a second replacement west export cable ("cable 4") via a single-tender supply contract with Hellenic Cables, on Ofgem’s advice that the faulty assets should be replaced before the OFTO tender. Assodivers Group was subsequently awarded the contract to install and protect this fourth export cable on a new route to the west of the initial cable corridors, providing a replacement export path for the Rampion transmission assets.