UK energy regulator Ofgem has selected Diamond Transmission Partners as the preferred bidder to become the offshore transmission operator for the 1200MW Hornsea 1 wind farm off east England.
Ofgem said it will formally appoint the Mitsubishi Corporation and Chubu Electric Power partnership as OFTO at the Orsted-owned wind farm once several steps are taken.
These include having all relevant contractual, funding, regulatory and operational arrangements ready for the transfer of the transmission assets and the grant of the offshore transmission licence.
Diamond will also have to put in place a bilateral agreement with Orsted to provide transmission services and accede to the system operator-transmission owner code.
Export assets at Hornsea 1 include offshore substations and a mid-point reactive compensation substation.
The wind farm is fully operational and comprises 174 Siemens Gamesa 7MW turbines of Yorkshire.