The Regulatory Authority of Bermuda has kickstarted the procurement process for the island’s first offshore wind project.
The RA is inviting developers from around the world to express their interest in building and operating the offshore wind farm.
The initial capacity would be around 60MW, with the potential to expand to 120MW.
The 2019 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) has set an ambitious target of reaching 85% renewable energy generation by 2035.
The RA said developing an offshore wind farm in Bermuda has the potential to bring about significant benefits to the island, including generating around 180GWh of clean electricity per year.
This would meet around 30% of the needs of Bermuda, displacing over 110,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year and improving air quality in Hamilton.
The authority said the wind farm, which is expected to become operational by 2030, would also provide insurance against volatile fossil fuel prices and help to dampen the impact of potential shocks.
The concept design developed at pre-feasibility stage is made up of 17 turbines, each with a capacity of 3.6MW, resulting in a total installed capacity of 61.2MW.