The company secured the lease by submitting the top bid of more than $42m during an auction for the US Department of the Interior's Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM).
The wind farm will be built in 79,350 acres of ocean 11 miles off Jones Beach. The area of the lease is between 14 and 30 miles off the coast of New York.
Statoil expects the lease area to potentially accommodate more than 1GW of offshore wind, with a phased development expected to start with between 400MW and 600MW.
Power from the wind farm will go to New York City and Long Island.
Statoil will begin studies to better understand the seabed conditions, grid connection options and wind turbines better suited for the site.
The offshore wind farm is being hailed as the next source of renewable energy by the state of New York in meeting its Clean Energy Standard in 2030.
Statoil New Energy Solutions executive vice president Irene Rummelhoff said: “We are excited to have submitted the most competitive bid in a highly attractive project, Statoil’s first offshore wind lease in the United States.
“We will work closely with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) on these studies and throughout the permitting process, and in connection with power offtake options.”
She said: “The US is a key emerging market for offshore wind – both bottom-fixed and floating – with significant potential along both the east and west coasts.
“As today’s announcement shows, Statoil is well positioned to take part in what could be a significant build out of offshore wind in New York and other states over the next decade.
“This effort is in line with the company’s strategy to gradually complement our oil and gas portfolio with viable renewable energy and other low-carbon solutions.”
Image: Statoil New Energy Solutions executive vice president Irene Rummelhoff. Photo: Courtesy of Ole Jørgen Bratland.
