'Cambois Connection' from North Sea windfarm gets go-ahead
Permission has been granted for an undersea cable to bring power from a North Sea windfarm ashore in Northumberland.
The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) has granted consent for cable infrastructure – known as the Cambois Connection – between the Berwick Bank windfarm, in the outer Firth of Forth, and the coast at Blyth.
Located around 38km east of the Scottish Borders coastline, Berwick Bank is targeting the delivery of 4.1GW of offshore wind capacity.
The MMO’s decision to consent the export cable infrastructure in English waters completes the required consents to deliver the grid connection for the third phase of Berwick Bank.
The cable infrastructure will provide up to 1.8GW of transmission capacity and transport renewable electricity generated offshore into the national network.
The electricity will be carried by up to four offshore high-voltage cables connecting onshore at Cambois.
In November 2024, Northumberland County Council approved the project’s onshore transmission infrastructure, including export cables, converter station and associated grid connections at Cambois.
The Berwick Bank Wind Farm is a nationally significant development project for the UK’s long‑term energy security and clean power targets.
If built to its full capacity, it could become the world’s largest offshore wind farm.
At full production it would be capable of generating enough affordable and secure homegrown renewable electricity to power more than six million homes annually.
Iain Jarvie, Berwick Bank senior project manager at SSE Renewables, said: “Securing the Marine Licence in English Waters for the Berwick Bank export cable infrastructure is another important milestone for the Berwick Bank project.
"The consent is an essential required element in the delivery of the infrastructure needed to connect Berwick Bank’s third phase to the UK transmission network, and ensures we can transport secure and affordable renewable electricity generated offshore to homes and businesses across the UK.
“Together with the consent already secured for the onshore infrastructure in Northumberland, this decision provides further momentum and reflects the continued progress being made across the Berwick Bank development."