French energy company TotalEnergies will be spearheading an offshore wind energy project off the east coast of the United States with Corio, a dedicated wind developer, and the New York-based electricity producer Rise Light & Power, to generate electricity for a million homes across New York and New Jersey.
TotalEnergies will hold 56 percent of the Attentive Energy project, with the rest held by Corio, an offshore wind developer owned by the green investment unit of the Australian conglomerate Macquarie, and the New York Light & Power (Rise).
The New York-based electricity producer will manage the project’s connection into the grid at its Ravenswood Generating Station, which will begin retiring its gas generators.
The Attentive Energy project is expected to be in operation by the 2030s, and the company says it aims to develop over three gigawatts of wind power.
The turbines will be located 54 miles from New York State and 42 miles from New Jersey, and will provide electricity for residents of both states.
TotalEnergies said the project will “support the US government’s goal to develop 30 GW of offshore wind in the country by 2030”.
Offshore wind turbines are a key part of US President Joe Biden's plan to decarbonise the US economy by 2050, and the Inflation Reduction Act, which seeks to boost funding for the energy transition, has boosted investment in the green energy sector.
However, increased costs and rising interest rates have been slowing down projects.
TotalEnergies, which has been slammed by environmental groups for its pipeline project through East Africa, is developing a wind farm portfolio.
Last week the company announced its largest offshore wind farm was fully operational, in the North Sea, some 27 kilometres off the coast of Scotland.
The 1075-megawatt offshore wind farm has the capacity to generate enough electricity to power almost 1.6 million homes each year.
(with Reuters)
