Berthou: The offshore energy market is entering a period of unprecedented expansion. Across Europe, North America and Asia-Pacific, governments have announced ambitious offshore wind targets as part of their energy security, industrial competitiveness and decarbonization strategies.

The scale of generation being planned over the coming decades is significantly larger than what existing offshore grid architectures were originally designed to accommodate. As a result, the discussion is increasingly shifting from how to connect individual projects to how to develop integrated offshore energy systems.

I believe the role of point-to-point HVDC is not over and a number of future projects will continue to utilize this solution. At the same time, we see that the scale and nature of offshore wind development is changing, starting from how offshore grids are planned. What we see now is a shift from individual project optimization toward system-level thinking, driven by the need to deliver affordable, resilient and sustainable energy at scale.

We are no longer looking at isolated wind farms, isolated national grid reinforcements [or] isolated interconnectors between nations. Our customers and their stakeholders are looking more and more in a holistic manner to the upcoming needs and planning multi-year and multi-purpose. We are looking at an entire offshore ecosystem.

In that environment, it becomes more evident the benefits one could achieve through new grid architectures like multi-terminal HVDC. Each point-to-point project requires its own corridor and infrastructure and is often designed to transport power in one direction (i.e., from generation to load).

However, with the need for grids to become more interconnected and dynamic in their operation, and the need to maximize the utilization and minimize the environmental impact, alternative approaches to traditional point-to-point connections will be needed. We simply cannot build the future energy system by repeating yesterday’s model.

So the issue is not that point-to-point HVDC is obsolete; it remains essential. But on its own, it cannot deliver the level of system efficiency, flexibility and resilience that future offshore grids will require with the best asset optimization and affordability. Multi-terminal HVDC complements this by enabling a more integrated, scalable and future-ready grid architecture.

On the technical side, interoperability is critical. Offshore grids will involve equipment from multiple vendors, across different countries and project phases. Ensuring that converters, control systems and protection schemes can work seamlessly together is essential. This is not only a technical question, but also about building trust in a multi-vendor, multi-stakeholder ecosystem.

On the regulatory side, alignment remains one of the biggest barriers. Offshore grids often cross national boundaries, but regulatory frameworks are still largely national. Questions around cost sharing, especially for anticipatory investments for greater future asset optimization, market access and revenue models need clearer, more harmonized answers. Without this alignment, we risk slowing down projects that are critical for energy security and competitiveness.

From a planning perspective, we need to move earlier and think bigger.
Regions like the North Sea are already shifting toward coordinated offshore planning, but in many parts of the world, development is still project driven. Moving to anticipatory, system-level holistic planning, where the grid is designed ahead of generation is key to unlocking scale.

There is no transition without grids. And ultimately, grids are not a constraint; they are an enabler of growth, resilience and decarbonization.

Offshore: How are developers, regulators, transmission operators and technology providers approaching offshore grid planning and integration?

Berthou: What we see globally is a clear evolution toward stronger coordination. This is one of the most encouraging shifts in the industry today.

In the European region, transmission system operators are increasingly leading offshore grid design, supported by regional initiatives that look at the system as a whole rather than individual projects.

In the US, there is growing momentum toward coordinated transmission planning along the East Coast.

And in Asia-Pacific, governments are beginning to define long-term offshore grid strategies, including grid reinforcement, [and] interconnections for energy trading, alongside renewable targets.

Across all regions, the direction is clear: more integration, more collaboration and more long-term thinking. Developers are adapting to this shift. Grid access is no longer just a connection issue, it is a strategic factor that influences project viability from the outset.

Offshore: What does successful offshore implementation look like over the next decade?

Berthou: Looking ahead, success will be defined at the system level—not by individual projects, but by how well the overall system performs for society.

We will see coordinated offshore grids, particularly in regions like the North Sea, where multiple wind clusters, energy hubs and interconnectors operate as part of an integrated network. Similar models are likely to emerge in other regions with high offshore growth potential, including North America and parts of Asia.

Infrastructure will increasingly be designed for future expansion, not just immediate needs. That means modular solutions, standardized interfaces and a clear pathway from today’s hybrid links to tomorrow’s larger and even more integrated HVDC networks.

Ultimately, success is not just technical. It is about delivering reliable, affordable and sustainable electricity at scale, while making efficient use of both offshore space and onshore infrastructure. It is about enabling economic growth, strengthening energy security and supporting communities through access to clean power.

And perhaps most importantly, it is about enabling cross-border collaboration, because offshore wind, and the grids that connect it, naturally sit beyond national boundaries.