This money would help projects currently under construction get their cables in the water and feeding into the grid quickly and cheaply,” Energy Minister Phil Hunt said.
Norway’s StatoilHydro ASA and Statkraft AS’s 315 MW Sheringham Shoal wind park is also included in the list of the same.
Ofgem Spokesman Mark Wiltsher said that the connection costs for the six eligible wind projects may reach GBP1 billion. They are scheduled to be producing power within two years.
The funding is part of Ofgem’s program to improve competition in offshore connection.
The competitive process “is endeavoring to keep the cost of connection to generators as low as possible,” Ofgem Chairman John Mogg said.
The EIB will consider the funding in November 2009, accessible to Offshore Transmission Ltd., Macquarie Capital Group Ltd., Balfour Beatty Capital Ltd. and other companies that Ofgem has said can bid for the transmission project.
EIB Spokeman Richard Willis said that the final agreement will be made in December 2009.
The contracts for the EIB loans will be awarded in April 2010 with the finance following through “shortly afterwards”, Wiltsher said.
