Shell & EDF JV to Build 1.5 GW Offshore Wind Farm in New Jersey

Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind, a 50-50 joint venture between California-based EDF Renewables North America and British-Dutch firm Shell New Energies US LLC, has received the right to provide 1.5 gigawatts of renewable offshore energy, enough to power over 700,000 homes in the city, by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities.

The New Jersey regulators also awarded the tender to build the 1,148-MW Ocean Wind 2 farm to Denmark’s Orsted, the world’s largest offshore wind farm developer.

Subject to a future investment decision, Atlantic Shores, once constructed, will develop and operate in a lease area located approximately 10-20 miles off the coast of New Jersey between Atlantic City and Barnegat Light. In addition, Atlantic Shores has pledged a range of comprehensive job training, academic, community and manufacturing initiatives to boost the local economy and communities. Construction on the wind farm is expected to begin in 2024.

“This win by Atlantic Shores progresses Shell’s investment in renewable power and the communities we serve,” said James Cotter, GM of US Offshore Wind. “Shell remains confident about the future of offshore wind and this latest achievement will help us deliver on our low carbon ambitions and help to provide more of the clean power options that the world needs.”

Although Shell has set a target to be a net-zero emissions energy business by 2050, its progressing wind business being a part of this process, the energy giant has recently been under fire for its unwillingness to regulate its Scope 3 emissions, i.e. the emissions released by the consumers of its products, such as utility companies and gas stations that are providers of electricity and gasoline.

In May this year, seven activist groups won a lawsuit against Royal Dutch Shell, which is headquartered in the Netherlands. The Hague District Court ruled that Shell must reduce its CO2 emissions by net 45%, as opposed to the self-given goal of 20%, by 2030, compared to 2019 levels.