The New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has revealed the solicitation schedule to meet the US state’s 7500MW offshore wind goal by 2035.
The proposed schedule calls for the next 1.2GW solicitation to be opened by September 2020, with an award made by second quarter of 2021.
Successful bidders would need to have projects operational by about 2027.
A solicitation for a further 1.2GW would then be launched in the third quarter of 2022, with an award made in the second quarter of 2023 for project deployment by about 2029.
The next sale, also for 1.2GW, would start in the second quarter of 2024, with the award made in the first three months of 2025 and projects estimated to be operational in 2031.
Two 1.4GW solicitations will complete the 7.5GW offering. One sale will start in Q2 2026, with the award in the first quarter of the following year, while the second sale will kick off in Q1 2028 and be awarded in the same quarter of 2029.
Successful bidders in the last two solicitations would need to have projects operational by 2033 and 2035, respectively.
A further 1.1GW was awarded last year to Orsted.
The governor’s office said: “Setting a solicitation schedule through 2035 provides a crucial level of certainty for developers, original equipment manufacturers, and the supply chain.”
It called upon the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities to take all necessary actions to implement the schedule.
Murphy said: “Several months ago, I committed the State of New Jersey to 7500MW of offshore wind by 2035, as a critical component of achieving 100% clean energy by 2050.
“By announcing this planned solicitation schedule, we are demonstrating to our partners in industry and labour that we are committed to implementing this process in a thoughtful way that ensures economic growth for the New Jersey.”
New Jersey Board of Public Utilities president Joseph Fiordaliso said: “Not only was Governor Murphy the first to embrace 100% clean energy, he has been a national leader when it comes to recognising the importance of offshore wind.
“New Jersey opened the largest single-state solicitation, is building a supply chain that will support projects up and down the east coast and is poised to double our offshore wind capacity.
“Guided by our new Energy Master Plan, offshore wind is a critical component in realising the Governor’s vision of 100% clean energy by 2050 and ensuring our planet survives for future generations.”
Murphy set the 7.5GW offshore wind goal in November last year, increasing from a previous target of 3.5GW.