Orsted, Shell-EDF Partnership Submit Offshore Wind Bids in New Jersey

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities received applications from Denmark-based Orsted A/S and Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind LLC, a joint venture of EDF Renewables North America and Shell New Energies US LLC, in response to the state’s second solicitation launched in September, according to a Dec. 11 news release. The solicitation endears the award of 1.2 to 2.4 gigawatts of capacity, bringing the state closer to meeting the goal of 7.5 gigawatts of offshore wind by 2035.

In 2019, New Jersey granted the largest single offshore wind award to Orsted to build their 1,100 megawatt Ocean Wind project. Moreover, the board recently requested the inclusion of the state’s offshore wind policy objectives into the transmission planning process of PJM Interconnection LLC through a competitive solicitation process, making New Jersey the first state to align its goals with the regional grid operator’s planning process.

The board will review the applications aided by consultancy Levitan and Associates, and expects to award the project(s) to the developers in June 2021. As a prerequisite for the award, the applicants must be prepared to provide $10,000 per megawatt to the state for research initiatives pertaining to wildlife and fishery preservation and protection. This funding will be administered with the assistance of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

The state’s proposed procurement schedule, unveiled in March, calls for four more rounds in 2022, 2024, 2026 and 2028 to achieve the 2035 goal. The board will vote in 2022 to launch the third round of solicitation for at least 1.2 gigawatts.