New England Anbaric

REPORT

Offshore Transmission in New England: The Benefits of a Better-Planned Grid

The Brattle Group’s report describes the pivotal role of transmission policy in the development of New England’s offshore wind industry.

Read the Full Report

Benefits

Independent Offshore Transmission

Enabling offshore wind to scale

Continuing the growth of offshore wind depends on phased development of transmission infrastructure to efficiently integrate new wind farms with the grid. Focusing on transmission first will avoid pitfalls that have stalled other sources of renewable energy in New England.

Reducing costs

Providing ready connections to the onshore grid can drive down the price of developing wind farms. European countries that developed independent offshore transmission have seen wind farms developed without subsidies.

Minimizing impacts on fisheries and the environment

Independent transmission systems can be used by multiple wind farms, reducing the number of cables in the seabed and minimizing impacts on fisheries, marine ecosystems and shoreline communities.

Supporting economic development

Independent transmission will enable offshore wind to grow steadily and for years to come, attracting manufacturers and making use of New England’s skilled workforce and strategically-located ports.

Peter Shattuck

President, New England

Peter Shattuck manages Anbaric’s projects across New England. Prior to joining Anbaric, Mr. Shattuck spent nine years as Massachusetts Director and Director of the Clean Energy Initiative at Acadia Center, a research and advocacy organization focused on energy and climate policy.

Mr. Shattuck received a B.A. in History from Yale University and a MSc. in Environmental Science from Trinity College, Dublin.

What Others Are Saying

Once the first few [offshore wind] projects are constructed and connected to the grid, it will be difficult to reach the goals set forth by states without a coordinated grid approach.

Liz Burdock

President & CEO of Business Network for Offshore Wind

National Grid believes that it would be irresponsible to press ahead with procurement of large amounts of OSW without first creating a robust offshore transmission system.

National Grid

Thoughtful planning for new energy generation and transmission is critical for consumers

Consumer Energy Alliance

To the extent to which a coordinated transmission network would ultimately lead to less structure in the water and under the seafloor, it would create fewer impacts to fishing practices and fishery resources.

Responsible Offshore Development Alliance (RODA)

Not allowing a shared transmission model may limit expansion and raise costs and make building multiple projects much more complicated.

Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM)

Transmission planning is important in order to reach the state’s long-term offshore wind goals. Coordinating transmission from multiple projects may lead to considerable ratepayer savings, better environmental outcomes, better grid stability, and may significantly reduce permitting risk.

New Jersey 2020 Energy Master Plan

As the European experience shows, if governments insist that transmission is built right — shared, independent and for the long-term — scale, competition, and good pricing will follow.

Wilfred Breuer

Managing Director of Tennet Offshore GmbH

“To date, all offshore wind farms in GB have been connected to the onshore system by individual point-to-point, or radial, links. We acknowledge that this type of link may not be the best outcome for consumers in the future as generating capacity increases, and may also increase pressure on coastal connection points.”

The United Kingdom's Office of Gas and Electricity Markets

Our Projects

Transforming Legacy Infrastructure
for the Renewable Era

Boston Wind Link will bring offshore wind directly to Greater Boston through a subsea and underground transmission system connecting to the substation at the Mystic Generating Station in Everett, MA. Mystic Generating Station is currently New England’s largest natural gas- and oil-burning powerplant, and the plant’s retirement in 2024 provides an ideal opportunity to substitute fossil fuel power with clean energy.

Brayton Wind Link will bring offshore wind to a robust grid connection on Massachusetts’ South Coast at the site of the former Brayton Point Power Station in Somerset, MA. The powerplant was New England’s largest coal-fired power plant, and Anbaric’s Brayton Point Renewable Energy Center combining offshore transmission and energy storage will help transform the site to an offshore wind hub. Learn more about Brayton Point here.

Connecticut Wind Link Connecting clean offshore wind power to Connecticut’s grid will enable a 100% carbon-free grid and will reduce reliance on fossil fuel-burning power plants. Investments in local grid connections will drive economic activity and increase reliability and resiliency. Routing offshore wind power to the core of Connecticut’s grid will provide power where it is needed most, while avoiding the vulnerability and costs of overhead power lines.

Anbaric’s Brayton Point Renewable Energy Center

Anbaric will transform the former power plant site at Brayton Point into a logistics port, manufacturing hub, and support center for the offshore wind energy sector. The Center will meet the needs of our emerging offshore wind industry, spur economic growth regionally, and transition to a cleaner air for our communities.