Equinor Wind US has submitted a bid to provide New York State with a long-term source of renewable energy from its Empire Wind lease site located offshore New York and New Jersey.
Image: Equinor's bid is submitted in response to the New York State’s 800MW Offshore Wind Power Procurement. Photo by Sweet Ice Cream Photography on Unsplash
Equinor said that the present bid is submitted in response to the New York State’s 800MW Offshore Wind Power Procurement. The procurement marks the state’s first formal solicitation targeted to the newly developing US offshore wind industry and is expected to announce the chosen suppliers by June 2019.
In December 2016, the company has secured the 80,000acre site lease in a federal auction, which is located around 23 to 57Km south of Long Island in the New York Bight, with a potential capacity of up to 2GW of renewable power.
Equinor Wind US president Christer af Geijerstam said: “Submitting this offer to provide New York with a steady supply of offshore wind is both a major step forward in the development process of the Empire Wind project and an important milestone for New York’s transition to renewable energy.
“Our project can make a major contribution toward fulfilling New York’s robust renewable energy goals, and the emissions reductions and economic impacts of our bid provide a clear benefit to New Yorkers. We look forward to working with the state as we turn that potential into a tangible asset that the people of New York can rely on for energy well into the future.”
The New York State is said to possess ideal offshore wind conditions that suit the development of new energy sources and state’s strong maritime workforce and port infrastructure assets are expected to play an important role in the growth of the industry.
Empire Wind project, over its life, is expected to generate approximately $1bn savings through reduced wholesale energy costs in New York.
To bring offshore wind to the New York area, Equinor has already carried out significant work, gathering detailed information about the seabed conditions, grid connection options and wind resources throughout the site for nearly two years.
Equinor new energy solutions executive vice president Pål Eitrheim said: “We firmly believe in the long-term potential for offshore wind as a major local source of renewable, reliable and cost-effective energy in the region. The US northeast is a key component of our growing commitment to develop offshore wind resources around the globe.”