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# Ofgem opens £3.5bn Hornsea 3 transmission tender, its largest to date
- URL: https://www.energyinsider.io/ofgem-opens-hornsea-3-ofto-tender-round-14/
- Published: 2026-10-22T08:47:45.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-22T08:47:45.000Z
- Description: Tender Round 14 invites investors to bid for the offshore transmission assets serving Hornsea 3, in the biggest OFTO process the regulator has run.
- Author: Editorial Team
- Tags: Wind, United Kingdom, Capital, Grid, #energyinsider-auto

Ofgem has launched Tender Round 14, its largest offshore transmission tender to date, inviting investors to compete for ownership and operation of £3.5bn of assets that will connect the Hornsea 3 offshore wind farm to Britain's electricity grid.

As first reported by reNEWS, the round opened on 21 October. It covers the offshore transmission infrastructure for Hornsea 3, one of the world's largest offshore wind farms under construction, according to Ofgem.

The regulator said the competitive process is intended to attract investment while keeping costs down for consumers and maintaining high standards of performance.

## How the OFTO regime works

Under the Offshore Transmission Owner (OFTO) regime, successful bidders finance, operate and maintain prebuilt transmission infrastructure. This includes cables and both offshore and onshore substations.

Investors receive an inflation-linked revenue stream for up to 25 years, subject to asset availability and performance.

Since the regime launched in 2009, winning bidders have invested more than £10bn in transmission links serving 28 offshore wind farms, Ofgem said.

## Hornsea 3

Hornsea 3 sits more than 100 kilometres offshore in the North Sea. It is scheduled for completion by the end of 2027 and is projected to generate enough electricity to power 3.3 million UK homes.

Ofgem expects further North Sea offshore transmission assets to come to market through the OFTO framework in future.

Beatrice Filkin, Ofgem's director of major projects, said the connection would help deliver home-grown energy to millions of British consumers and offer investors a "great long-term opportunity".

She added that by running a competitive process, Ofgem is helping to attract the investment Britain needs for a cleaner, more secure energy system while ensuring consumers get value for money.