Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind, a 50:50 joint venture between Shell and EDF Renewables North America, is teaming up with Rutgers University to advance ocean research and monitoring for offshore wind development.
The five-year agreement will kick off in the summer and help to bolster on-going efforts at the Rutgers Center for Ocean Observing Leadership.
The focus will be on advancing innovative approaches to collect and analyse meteorological, oceanographic and marine bioacoustic data and will build on work Rutgers is already undertaking with the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities.
Atlantic Shores aims to develop up to 2.5GW of offshore wind capacity in a lease area off the coast of New Jersey between Atlantic City and Barnegat Light.
Data collected from the partnership with Rutgers from both inside and outside the Atlantic Shores lease area will not only support the wind farm’s development, but also contribute to the broader regional knowledge of the Mid-Atlantic marine environment, the partners said.
Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind president and managing director Chris Hart said: “Rutgers University is a leader in marine science research, and Atlantic Shores is committed to increasing data collection that will support the sustainability of the emerging offshore wind industry in New Jersey.
“We look forward to advancing their research efforts by collaborating early on as our Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind portfolio gets off the ground.”
Rutgers interim senior vice president for research and economic development David Kimball said: “Rutgers is committed to leveraging its research capabilities, working with industry and state partners, and providing the best possible science to lead the nation in responsible offshore wind development.
“The Jersey coast is a prime location for offshore wind development in our state’s pursuit of achieving 100% clean energy by 2050.
“We are happy to partner with Atlantic Shores to advance Rutgers research projects related to offshore wind and be at the forefront of a new industry that can have long-term economic benefits for New Jersey.”
New Jersey is expected to award a state contract to build the first offshore wind farm off the state’s coast in the summer.
Atlantic Shores said it plans to move forward with data collection and research in partnership with Rutgers regardless of the outcome of the New Jersey decision.