Invenergy is seeking a delay from the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities for its 2400MW Leading Light Wind due to difficulties with finding a turbine supplier for the project.
As a result, Invenergy, which is developing the project with energyRE offshore wind, has filed a Motion to Stay the operation of the Board Order until 20 December 2024.
According to documents filed with (NJBPU) Invenergy developed its bid for the project using a “turbine agnostic” approach that considered expected product offerings from all three major turbine manufacturers.
Based on expectations for the turbine market at the time of the application submission, Invenergy reasonably believed that certain turbines expected to be manufactured by either GE or Siemens Gamesa would be the most cost-effective options available.
However, approximately three weeks after the Board Order was issued in January of 2024, GE publicly announced it would not manufacture the offshore wind turbine Invenergy expected to use in the LLW Project.
By the time of the formal GE announcement, Invenergy was already actively engaged in discussions with SGRE around the turbine supply proposal it had previously provided to Invenergy for the LLW Project, the documents state.
In June 2024, Siemens Gamesa notified Invenergy that it was substantially increasing the cost of its turbine offering, according to the filing.
It continues: “As a result of these actions, Invenergy is currently without a viable turbine supplier for the LLW Project.
“Invenergy continues to engage in discussions with GE and SGRE to work to find a suitable alternative.
“Given the complexity of the LLW Project, and offshore wind projects generally, identification of viable equipment alternatives takes time-time the Board Order was not structured to allow.
“Consequently, Invenergy files this Motion to Stay the operation of the Board Order until December 20, 2024, to provide Invenergy an additional period in which to engage with equipment manufacturers, explore cost-effective market options, and review those options with Board Staff and the Division of Rate Counsel.”