The US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has announced the final three wind energy areas (WEAs) in the Central Atlantic that have the potential to support offshore wind capacity between 4 GW and 8 GW. The three WEAs covering 356,550 acres are situated in relatively shallow water, off the coasts of Maryland, Virginia, and Delaware. The first area called A-2, is 26 nautical miles from Delaware Bay and will cover 101,767 acres. The second area, B-1, is situated 23.5 nautical miles from Ocean City, Maryland, and is 78,285 acres in size. The third, C-1, lies 35 nautical miles from Virginia’s Chesapeake Bay, and it will cover about 176,506 acres.
In order to finalise the WEAs, BOEM partnered with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science for development of an ocean planning model, which will help in reducing risks on other ocean users and delicate environmental resources.
In July 2023, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) and Copenhagen Offshore Partners (COP) applied to Bangladesh’s government for permission to build a 500 MW wind farm in the Bay of Bengal. The offshore wind farm, which is expected to cost $1.3 billion will be the first of its sort in the region.
In the same month, Ignitis Renewables and its strategic partner Ocean Winds, a joint venture of Engie and EDP Renewables, placed the highest bid in a tender for 700 MW of offshore wind granted by the Lithuanian Government. The duo offered $22.02 million as a development fee to become the provisional winners of the tender.
In addition, in the same month, Skyborn Renewables, a German renewable energy developer filed an application with the Swedish Government for the development of a 2.8 GW offshore wind farm.
