Atlantic Shores Selects New Jersey Wind Port for Its 1.5 GW Offshore Wind Project

Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind (Atlantic Shores) has signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) to use the New Jersey Wind Port for marshalling of its 1.5 GW offshore wind project.

Under the contract, Atlantic Shores will lease 35 acres of land at the New Jersey Wind Port, in Lower Alloways Creek, Salem County, which will create more than 200 new direct jobs at the Port, including trades, stevedores, preassembly and installation technicians, and project management personnel.

Atlantic Shores’ lease is expected to start in mid-2026 for a period of up to three years and options to extend, creating long-term value for the State and the facilitation of future offshore wind projects.

“New Jersey’s leadership in offshore wind is on the rise, bringing with it significant catalytic investment, family-sustaining career opportunities, and the promise of a healthier environment for future generations”, said Phil Murphy, Governor of New Jersey.

Atlantic Shores is the second wind developer to execute an LOI for use of the Port, following the execution of an LOI with Ørsted in April 2022.

NJEDA CEO Tim Sullivan said that one of the key advantages of the New Jersey Wind Port for offshore wind developers is the opportunity to be co-located with Tier 1 component manufacturers. This proximity allows for cost efficiencies in installation to the ultimate benefit of New Jersey ratepayers, Sullivan added.

“The location offers outstanding waterside access without barriers to transporting assembled turbines vertically and allows us to tap into New Jersey’s highly skilled talent pool and robust workforce development programs. In conjunction with our on-site nacelle assembly facility, Atlantic Shores is proud to contribute to New Jersey’s infrastructure and clean energy economy”, said Joris Veldhoven, Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind CEO.

The Authority issued a notice to lease in late 2021, attracting 16 offers.

Negotiations with several tier 1 component manufacturers about establishing turbine factories at the Port are ongoing, and the NJEDA expects to make further announcements in late 2023.

Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind is a 50:50 joint venture between EDF Renewables and Shell New Energies.

The companies hold development rights for an offshore wind zone located some 14 to 32 kilometres off the New Jersey coast, between Barnegat Light and Atlantic City.

Back in June 2021, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) awarded Atlantic Shores with 1,510 MW of offshore wind capacity as part of the State’s second offshore wind solicitation.

The 1.5 GW Atlantic Shores Project 1, which will feature Vestas’ V236-15.0 MW turbines, is expected to power 700,000 homes by 2027 and 2028.

Last year, the Shell-EDF Renewables partnership was also announced as one of the provisional winners in the record-breaking lease sale in the New York Bight.

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