E3G has released a new report analysing how best to utilise renewable resources in the North Sea.
It contends that there are significant benefits to be found in a more connected approach.
“Developing an integrated and interconnected electricity grid in the North Seas and northwest Europe is key to unlocking the significant wind resources, zero emissions energy sources and grid flexibility that will be needed.”
The report outlines the potential costs that could be saved by moving away from the current radial approach.
“The largest cost savings come from co-ordinating connections to offshore hubs (between £23bn and £45bn) and fully integrating the offshore grid with UK and EU power networks (a further saving of ~£25bn).”
This can be see in the following graph which shows the net cost benefit for each modelled scenario (Medium Scenario: 340.7 GW max / High scenario 490.7 GW) compared to a base of radial connections. 
This led to the following key conclusions:
“Key conclusion 2: The economic benefits of co-ordinating grid connections around offshore hubs are very significant.”
“Key conclusion 3: The economic benefits of establishing a fully integrated and interconnected grid across the North Seas are very significant.”
The full report can be found here.