PPL Corporation and Belgian TSO Elia Group have agreed to co-develop and operate future offshore wind transmission assets off New England in the US.
PPL, through its subsidiary PPL Translink, and Elia Group, via subsidiary WindGrid, have signed a memorandum of understanding to integrate offshore wind with the east coast region’s onshore grid.
It will combine PPL’s experience building and operating large-scale onshore transmission in the US with Elia Group’s track record on offshore wind transmission, including high-voltage direct current (HVDC) networks.
The duo plan to respond to a request for information issued by five New England states that are seeking input from interested stakeholders relating to the transmission system changes and upgrades that are needed to integrate future renewable energy resources into their grids.
The states are Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Maine and New Hampshire.
Chris Peeters, CEO of Elia Group, said: “Both PPL and Elia Group share the same open mind and vision regarding innovative offshore transmission solutions.
“By uniting our complementary skills and building on the experience Elia Group has built up in Europe, we want to undertake offshore development in the interest of society. PPL is a reliable and robust player in the U.S. energy sector. Our values and ambitions in terms of driving the energy transition are well matched.”
Vincent Sorgi, president and chief executive of PPL Corporation, added: “As the U.S. seeks to accelerate the development of offshore wind to advance a cleaner energy future, it’s essential that we prepare to integrate that wind generation as reliably and efficiently as possible to strengthen grid resilience and keep energy affordable.
“Both PPL and Elia Group are at the forefront of grid innovation, and together with WindGrid, we intend to leverage our shared vision and deep expertise to propose solutions that advance decarbonization goals, enhance energy security and drive value for consumers.”