New Jersey today began accepting applications through 10 December for supply of 1.2GW to 2.4GW offshore wind capacity starting in 2027, while also making $4.5m funding available to support workforce development in the sector.

New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU), which administers the solicitation process, reserves “discretion” to select more or less than those amounts in this procurement round. It will announce winning projects in June 2021.

The request for proposals is the second installment toward the state’s 7.5GW offshore wind goal by 2035, second only to New York’s 9GW target by the same date, which is central to its ambitions for 100% renewable power supply 2050.

In June 2019, Denmark’s Orsted won New Jersey’s initial 1.1GW solicitation – the largest for a single project thus far in the US - against rival bids from Norway’s Equinor and the Atlantic Shores consortium owned jointly by EDF Renewables and Shell.

Ocean Wind will be built 24km (15 miles) off the coast of Atlantic City where Orsted has a 3.5GW capacity lease area. New Jersey officials expect the project to begin operation in 2024, although this will depend on permitting by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), the federal industry regulator.

BPU said Ocean Wind will generate an estimated $1.17b in economic benefits for New Jersey and create 15,000 jobs over the project’s 20-year life.

In February, Murphy’s administration issued a schedule to procure 7.5GW of offshore wind capacity through six rounds with awards for the full amount completed by first quarter 2029. Rounds 3-6 delivery targets for power are 2029, 2031, 2033 and 2035.

In June, Murphy announced plans to build the US’ first dedicated offshore wind port, an up-to-$400m investment along the Delaware River. The first of two development stages will be in commercial operation by 2023 and the second no later than 2027.

Recharge reported that the state is in talks with several leading global OEMs to potential use the site to manufacture offshore wind turbines or some of their main components.

State officials say the facility will be able to partially assemble wind turbines with components stretching 152.4 metres (500 feet) using wharves able to accommodate up to 800 tons weight.

Wind

New Jersey launches up-to-2.4GW offshore wind auction and adds $4.5m workforce fund