Dong acquires Massachusetts zone

UNITED STATES: Dong Energy has entered the US offshore market by acquiring a 759 square kilometer development area off the Massachusetts coast from RES Americas.

Dong has acquired the license to develop an area off the coast of Massachusetts

RES Americas was awarded the development license by the Bureau of Ocean Management (BOEM) following an auction in January. It was one of two areas leased at the auction, with OffshoreMW winning the second. There were no takers for two further areas that were auctioned.

Dong estimates the area support up to 1GW of capacity. It will take on the development and construction of the project located 88 kilometres off the US coast.

The developer said it believes the site's conditions are similar to those found off northwestern Europe. Water depths in the two areas that were leased range from 36 to 63 metres.

A spokesperson for Dong said the company had been looking beyond northwest Europe to develop offshore projects and the US was an area with good potential.

RES Americas agreed to pay BOEM $281,285 for the area in January. Dong has taken on the license with RES continuing to support development of the site.

The Massachusetts state government is in the process of setting up a financial framework to support the development of offshore wind.