Turbine manufacturer Vestas is now the preferred supplier for the 1.5 gigawatt Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind project in New Jersey, the developers announced today.
Vestas will supply its V236-15MW offshore wind turbines for Atlantic Shores – a 50-50 partnership between Shell New Energies and EDF Renewables – with installation expected in 2027, according to the partners.
The preferred supplier agreement (PSA) was signed shortly after New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy issued an executive order Sept. 21 to increase the state’s offshore wind target goals by 50%, aiming to achieve 11 GW potential by 2040.
“The Murphy administration has set bold offshore wind development and emissions reduction goals, and we’re backing up those commitments to a more sustainable Garden State through focused action and concrete investments that address climate change while creating good family sustaining jobs,” said Jane Cohen, executive director of the Murphy administration’s Office of Climate Action and the Green Economy. “Atlantic Shores’ selection of Vestas as the preferred supplier of its New Jersey offshore wind project marks another crucial step toward our state’s transition to a green economy and realizing our clean energy future.”
“Today’s announcement by Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind and Vestas is an exciting step forward for one of New Jersey’s first offshore wind projects,” said New Jersey Board of Public Utilities President Joseph L. Fiordaliso. “This key development milestone helps keep the State on track for achieving Governor Murphy’s goal of 100 percent clean energy by 2050 and our nation leading goal of 11GW of offshore wind by 2040.”
“We are proud to partner with Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind as the preferred supplier for its project and deploy our flagship V236-15MW turbine to help New Jersey achieve its goal of rapidly developing offshore wind and creating new clean energy jobs,” said Laura Beane, president of Vestas North America. “Scaling offshore wind in the U.S.A. depends upon consistent policy and predictable, steady volume over a long period of time, and New Jersey’s newly stated 11 GW offshore target combined with stable federal policy signals this intent.”
Vestas plans to establish a nacelle assembly facility at the New Jersey Wind Port in Salem County, where the assembly and testing of the hub, cooler top, and heli-hoist modules will take place. From the port on upper Delaware Bay, turbine components will be transported to the Atlantic Shores lease off Long Beach Island for installation.
“The facility will supply Atlantic Shores’ inaugural project in its portfolio,” according to the developers.
“In addition, Vestas will deliver a comprehensive wind turbine service solution as soon as the project commences operations. These services will be executed from a state-of-the-art operations and maintenance base established by Atlantic Shores in Atlantic City, that will also provide additional local employment opportunities over the life of the project.”
"Since our award in June 2021, Atlantic Shores has conducted an extensive due diligence and procurement process to find the right turbine supply partner that will enable us to deliver the best value to the state of New Jersey, including local content commitments. We are proud to have concluded that process with the selection of Vestas as our preferred supplier, and we look forward to moving forward together to successfully deliver our Project 1,” said Joris Veldhoven, CEO of Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind.
