Shell and EDF line up Vestas for 1.5GW New Jersey offshore wind farm

Vestas is in line to supply a 1.5GW offshore wind farm being developed off the coast of New Jersey by Shell New Energies and EDF Renewables.

Blade moulds for Vestas' V236-15.0MW offshore wind turbine

It has been named preferred supplier for the Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind joint venture’s self-titled wind farm, which the company won in the US east coast state’s offshore wind tender in 2021.

The Danish manufacturer is due to supply its V236-15.0MW turbines for the 1510MW Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind 1 project and also provide operations and maintenance services after commissioning, which is expected in 2027 or 2028.

The preferred supplier agreement was signed shortly after New Jersey governor Phil Murphy signed an executive order boosting the state’s offshore wind goal to 11GW by 2040.

Laura Beane, president of Vestas North America, said: “Scaling offshore wind in the US depends upon consistent policy and predictable, steady volume over a long period of time, and New Jersey’s newly stated 11GW offshore target combined with stable federal policy signals this intent”.

Vestas intends to establish a nacelle assembly facility in New Jersey – the first of its kind in the US – where the assembly and testing of the hub, cooler top, and heli-hoist modules will take place.

At national level, the Biden administration aims for the US to have 30GW of offshore wind capacity by 2030.

Atlantic Shores recently promoted its commercial and financial director Joris Veldhoven to become its first CEO.