The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority has cancelled the 4GW Round 3 solicitation after winning projects were no longer able to progress.
NYSERDA said GE Vernova’s ditching of an 18MW turbine – first revealed by subscriber-only reNEWS in February – has caused “material changes” to wind farms selected in last year’s exercise.
The projects provisionally successful in the October 2023 solicitation were Corio, Total and Rise Light & Power’s 1.3GW Attentive 1, RWE and National Grid Ventures’ 1.3GW Community and Vineyard Offshore’s 1.3GW Excelsior.
“Subsequent to the provisional award announcement, material modifications to projects bid into New York’s third offshore wind solicitation caused technical and commercial complexities between provisional awardees and their partners, resulting in the provisionally awarded parties’ inability to come to terms,” stated NYSERDA.
“Of note, GE Vernova’s offshore wind turbine product pivot away from the initially proposed 18 MW Haliade-X turbine platform to a 15.5/16.5 MW platform caused material changes to projects proposed into ORECRFP22-1.
“Given these developments, no final awards will be made, ORECRFP22-1 has been concluded, and NYSERDA will look to advance a future competitive solicitation.”
NYSERDA also provisionally awarded $300 million of New York State grant funding to GE Vernova and LM Wind Power for nacelle and blade manufacturing in New York’s Capital Region, which was associated with the provisionally awarded projects.
The agency added: “These funds will be made available through a future competitive solicitation to continue the development of the offshore wind supply chain in New York.”
NYSERDA said it is takin “proactive measures” to respond and address head on “evolving challenges” facing the offshore wind industry.
“NYSERDA remains committed to advancing New York’s offshore wind industry in pursuit of the State’s Climate Act goals and pursuing next steps in alignment with Governor Hochul’s 10-Point Action Plan. These next steps will be announced in the near future.”