Equinor wins Atlantic offshore wind lease

The circa 2 GW lease will have the capacity to produce enough energy to power around 900,000 US homes.

With a bid of US$75,001,001 for 101,443 acres in the Atlantic, Equinor secured one of two fixed-bottom lease areas located 26 nautical miles from the mouth of the Delaware Bay.

“Equinor is pleased to have been selected as the provisional winner of the Central Atlantic offshore wind lease auction,” said Molly Morris, president of Equinor Renewables Americas.

“Equinor’s interest in this auction is consistent with our approach to pursue attractive offshore wind opportunities in the United States.

“The Central Atlantic region has a rapidly growing demand for electricity with widespread support for adding renewable sources of energy into the power mix.”

Equinor’s provisional win in the Central Atlantic builds off recent offshore wind milestones on the East Coast, with construction ongoing at the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal and offshore work underway to support the Empire Wind 1 project.

“This is a long-term option with first power post-2035,” said Pål Eitrheim, executive vice president of Equinor Renewables.

“Developing this lease area will draw upon Equinor’s proven capabilities in offshore wind.”

Equinor will now work with BOEM to certify the lease and, after regulatory approvals, the Central Atlantic site would be added to Equinor’s existing US offshore wind portfolio.