Policymakers and grid operators warn that returning to the EU’s market could be crucial for realising the UK’s ambitious North Sea offshore wind plans, amid calls for regulatory reforms and closer regional cooperation.
The next phase of North Sea offshore wind deployment may be far harder to deliver unless the UK returns to the EU’s Internal Electricity Market, speakers at GOW 2026 said, as policymakers and grid operators face the challenge of turning a set of national power systems into something closer to a shared regional network.
Since Brexit, electricity trading across UK-EU interconnectors has operated under an explicit allocation model, requiring market participants to buy cross-border capacity separately before trading power on either side. At the event, Sally Lewis, head of policy and regulation at National Grid Interconnectors, said that scaling coordinated North Sea infrastructure would be very difficult under that arrangement. Julian Leslie, director of strategic energy planning and chief engineer at the National Energy System Operator, said returning to the IEM would make the process “a lot easier and more straightforward”, though he added that the current system has still supported trading, resilience and security of supply.
The discussion comes as the UK and EU negotiate possible UK participation in the bloc’s electricity market again. According to an explanatory memorandum published by the UK government, ministers have already sought authorisation to open talks on that question, underlining how far the issue has moved from abstract post-Brexit debate to live energy policy.
The stakes are significant. Nine North Sea countries are pursuing a plan to develop 100GW of cross-border offshore wind capacity by 2050, with turbines connected across multiple jurisdictions through interconnectors. That vision was reinforced in January, when UK and European leaders used the Hamburg North Sea summit to pledge closer cooperation on offshore wind, energy security and the resilience of critical infrastructure in the region.
For grid planners and developers, the central question is not only whether enough generation can be built, but whether the regulatory framework can keep pace. Lewis argued that multi-purpose interconnectors, which would link offshore wind assets directly to several countries, need a policy window this year if they are to secure approvals in time for deployment in the 2040s. Without changes to the rules, she said, those projects cannot proceed in a meaningful way.
Industry groups have argued that the prize is not merely technical efficiency but economic value. RenewableUK and National Grid have estimated that multi-purpose interconnectors could generate more than £13 billion in benefits for Great Britain and connected markets.
National Grid, meanwhile, is said to be hopeful that negotiations on power trading will be guided by energy security rather than wider political disputes. According to S&P Global Market Intelligence, the company believes the practical interdependence of the UK and European systems remains strong despite the more fragmented trading regime that followed Brexit. The European Council formally authorised the negotiations in March after exploratory discussions concluded in December 2025.
The broader policy direction is also becoming clearer. At the Hamburg summit in January, governments pledged to accelerate offshore wind development in shared waters and to strengthen cooperation on physical and cyber security for North Sea energy assets. For an industry seeking bankable routes to market, those commitments matter: they signal that the North Sea is being treated not just as a resource base, but as a strategic energy corridor that will require common rules as much as common cables.
Ofgem’s latest tender round for ownership and operation of major offshore transmission assets shows how quickly the UK’s offshore grid is expanding at home as well. The regulator is seeking bids for links associated with the 1.4GW Sofia wind farm in the North Sea, a reminder that the practical build-out of offshore infrastructure is already under way even before the deeper question of cross-border market reform is settled.
For now, the direction of travel is towards more integration, not less. The political agreements are in place, the technical ambition is sizeable, and the commercial case is strengthening. What remains unresolved is whether the market architecture will be simple enough to support the system the North Sea now demands.
- https://www.renews.biz/offshore-wind/gow26-eu-market-return-needed-for-north-sea-grid/ – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.spglobal.com/market-intelligence/en/news-insights/articles/2026/6/national-grid-sees-energy-security-driving-uk-eu-power-trading-deal-101960877 – National Grid PLC is optimistic about the outcome of electricity trading negotiations between the UK and EU, focusing on energy security to prevent unrelated policy disputes from derailing discussions. The UK is engaged in talks on rejoining the EU’s internal electricity market, reversing its post-Brexit departure. The European Council formally authorized the negotiations in March following exploratory discussions that concluded in December 2025. Despite more fragmented power trading arrangements since Brexit, the UK’s operational collaboration with Europe through interconnectors remains robust, with flow patterns shifting in ways that underscore the systems’ interdependence.
- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/building-the-north-seas-power-hub-for-a-resilient-and-competitive-europe-north-sea-summit-declarations-2026 – European and UK Heads of State and Energy Ministers, as well as representatives of the European Commission and NATO, convened on 26 January 2026, for the third North Sea Summit in Hamburg. These declarations set out concrete next steps and underscore the political commitment to accelerate the green transition in Europe and provide green, affordable energy and transforming the North Seas into a clean energy powerhouse. These commitments also reinforce the importance of international cooperation with European counterparts to deliver energy security, investments, jobs, as well as the physical and cyber security of renewable energy infrastructure in the North Seas.
- https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/jan/26/uk-among-10-countries-to-build-100gw-wind-power-grid-in-north-sea – The UK and nine other European countries have agreed to accelerate the rollout of offshore windfarms in the 2030s and build a power grid in the North Sea, in a landmark pact to turn the ageing oil basin into a ‘clean energy reservoir’. They will build windfarms at sea that directly connect to various countries through high-voltage subsea cables, under plans that are expected to provide 100 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind power, or enough electricity capacity to power 143m homes. Under the pact, the governments have promised to collectively build 5GW of offshore wind capacity every year between 2031 and 2040 by helping to support private sector investments.
- https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-and-europe-sign-historic-pact-to-drive-clean-energy-future – Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has today (Monday 26 January) signed a historic clean energy security pact – the Hamburg Declaration – with European allies to bolster energy security for families and businesses across the UK and Europe, in an era of global instability. The pact commits to delivering major offshore wind projects in shared waters, aiming to secure 100 GW (gigawatts) of joint offshore wind projects – powering homes and businesses across the continent – built jointly between UK and EU companies.
- https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/press-release/ofgem-opens-bidding-own-and-operate-ps4billion-worth-electricity-links-plugging-great-britain-homegrown-north-sea-power – Ofgem is inviting tenders to own and operate the prebuilt electricity transmission link connecting one of the world’s biggest offshore wind farms to Great Britain’s mainland energy network. Ofgem has opened the OFTO (Offshore Transmission Owner) regime Tender Round 12 which invites bids from investors to own and operate infrastructure connecting RWE’s Sofia wind farm to the onshore electricity grid in North Yorkshire. Located 195km off Britain’s Northeast coastline in the North Sea, the 1.4 GW wind farm can power almost 1.2m homes.
- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/em-for-uk-participation-in-eu-electricity-market-com2025804 – This explanatory memorandum is about a recommendation for a Council decision authorising the opening of negotiations between the European Union and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on the participation of the United Kingdom in the internal electricity market of the Union and on the financial contribution of the United Kingdom towards reducing economic and social disparities between the regions of the Union. It was submitted by the Rt Hon Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, Minister for the Cabinet Office and His Majesty’s Paymaster General, Cabinet Office.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The article references events from June 2026, indicating recent developments. However, the content heavily relies on information from the Global Offshore Wind 2026 conference held in Manchester on 16-17 June 2026, which is a recent event. The article also cites discussions from the 3rd North Sea Summit in Hamburg, Germany, held in January 2026, which is several months prior. This suggests that while the article is recent, it incorporates information from earlier events, potentially affecting its freshness.
Quotes check
Score:
7
Notes:
The article includes direct quotes from Sally Lewis, head of policy and regulation at National Grid Interconnectors, and Julian Leslie, director of strategic energy planning and chief engineer at the National Energy System Operator. However, these quotes cannot be independently verified through online sources, raising concerns about their authenticity. The lack of verifiable sources for these quotes diminishes the credibility of the information presented.
Source reliability
Score:
6
Notes:
The article originates from reNEWS, a niche publication focusing on renewable energy. While it may be reputable within its niche, its limited reach and potential biases reduce its overall reliability. Additionally, the article appears to be summarising or aggregating content from other sources, including press releases and industry reports, which may not be independently verified. This reliance on secondary sources further diminishes the article’s reliability.
Plausibility check
Score:
7
Notes:
The claims about the challenges of scaling coordinated North Sea infrastructure without the UK’s participation in the EU’s Internal Electricity Market align with industry discussions. However, the article lacks supporting details from other reputable outlets, and the absence of specific factual anchors (e.g., names, institutions, dates) raises concerns about its authenticity. The language and tone are consistent with industry reporting, but the lack of independent verification sources diminishes the overall plausibility.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): FAIL
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The article presents recent developments regarding the UK’s potential return to the EU’s Internal Electricity Market and its implications for North Sea offshore wind infrastructure. However, it heavily relies on information from press releases and industry reports, which may not be independently verified. The inclusion of unverifiable quotes further diminishes the article’s credibility. Given these concerns, the overall assessment is a FAIL with MEDIUM confidence.
