Orsted is to set up its North American digital operations headquarters in Newark, New Jersey.
The company expects the office to begin welcoming employees in the fourth quarter of 2021.
It will initially be home to over 20 staff, including 12-14 new IT positions in 2021, and has the potential to more than double its headcount over the next several years based on Orsted’s offshore and onshore growth in the US.
Orsted is currently finalising lease negotiations and has already initiated recruitment for the new headquarters.
The digitalisation headquarters in Newark will integrate with Orsted’s other digital operations offices in Europe and Asia.
The company selected Newark due to its proximity to IT talent pools in the region and because of its strategic location to key existing Orsted offices and businesses.
New Jersey’s institutions of higher education, including the New Jersey Institute of Technology, will be partners to Orsted as it recruits personnel to fulfil the company’s onshore and offshore digital needs.
Key staff areas include: information security, risk, and compliance; network security; application operations; IT service desk; and computer and server operations.
Orsted North America offshore chief executive David Hardy said: “Our investments into New Jersey are expanding beyond our offshore wind projects.
“While most of our employees will be based in southern New Jersey when our projects are operational, this headquarters ensures that the economic benefits of offshore wind will be spread across the entire state.
“Newark is a fast becoming a tech hub and we’re proud to play a part in its resurgence.”
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said: “Developing New Jersey’s offshore wind industry allows us to address climate change and also bolster the state’s economy through millions of dollars in investments and high-quality jobs.
“We are thrilled that Orsted will open their North American digital operations headquarters in Newark, a key city and partner in growing New Jersey’s innovation economy.
“Orsted’s commitment to our state further solidifies New Jersey’s position as the leader in offshore wind in the US.”
Newark mayor Ras Baraka said: “We are pleased to welcome Orsted, a global leader in clean energy, as one of Newark’s newest corporate citizens.
“In addition to providing high-tech job opportunities for our residents and helping make Newark a more attractive destination for innovative business, having Orsted join our growing tech hub can inspire a new generation of sustainability innovators committed to tackling the climate crisis.”