Six offshore wind players seek to lease space at New Jersey Wind Port

Walney Extension turbines at sunset. Source: Ørsted A/S

Six offshore wind developers and turbine manufacturers have bid to become tenants at the New Jersey Wind Port, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) announced on Thursday.

The six bidders, which submitted a total of 16 proposals, include three developers -- Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind LLC, Ørsted Wind Power North America LLC and Beacon Wind LLC -- and three turbine manufacturers -- GE Renewables US LLC, Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy Inc and Vestas-American Wind Technology Inc.

Ørsted A/S (CPH:ORSTED) and Atlantic Shores, which is equally owned by EDF Renewables North America and Shell New Energies US, have been awarded more than 3,700 MW of offshore wind capacity by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU), while Beacon Wind, a joint venture between Equinor ASA (NYSE:EQNR) and BP Plc (LON:BP), has secured project awards by New York State.

NJEDA launched the solicitation at the end of September, seeking non-binding offers on four parcels at the port -- two that are being purpose-built for offshore wind marshalling, staging and final assembly of turbines; and two for offshore wind turbine component manufacturing and assembly.

New Jersey has a target of 7,500 MW of offshore wind by 2035 as part of its plan to reach 100% clean energy by 2050. A groundbreaking ceremony for the New Jersey Wind Port, to be located on an artificial island on the eastern shores of the Delaware river in Salem county, was held in September.

“The New Jersey Wind Port is a game-changing investment that establishes New Jersey as the capital of offshore wind in the United States,” said New Jersey governor Phil Murphy, “The overwhelming response to this early opportunity to lease space at the Wind Port from the biggest global players in offshore wind shows that we are already well on our way to achieving this vision and driving economic growth that firmly aligns with our environmental goals,” he added.

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