Statoil wins wind lease offshore New York City
Map of the lease area
It says it will now have the opportunity to explore the potential development of an offshore wind farm to provide New York City and Long Island with a significant, long-term source of renewable electricity.
Statoil submitted a winning bid of USD 42,469,725 during the online offshore wind auction by the US Department of the Interior's Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM). It is the company's first offshore wind lease in the United States.
"We now look forward to working with New York’s state agencies and contribute to New York meeting its future energy needs by applying our offshore experience and engineering expertise,” said Irene Rummelhoff, Statoil´s executive vice president for New Energy Solutions.
The lease comprises an area that could potentially accommodate more than 1 GW of offshore wind, with phased development expected to start with 400-600 MW. The New York Wind Energy Area is located 14-30 miles (30-60km) offshore, spans 79,350 acres (321km2), and covers water depths between 65 and 131ft (20-40m).
Statoil will next conduct studies to better understand the seabed conditions, the grid connection options and wind resources involved in the lease site.
“We'll work closely with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority on these studies and throughout the permitting process, and in connection with power offtake options,” Rummelhoff said.
The state of New York projects that offshore wind will be a significant part of the renewable energy generation needed to meet its Clean Energy Standard in 2030.
“This effort is in line with the company’s strategy to gradually complement our oil and gas portfolio with viable renewable energy and other low-carbon solutions,” Rummelhoff said.
In Europe, Statoil is developing an offshore wind portfolio with the capacity to provide over 1 million homes with renewable energy.
