New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo said Wednesday that a study on successful European offshore wind projects would be conducted 'to inform and accelerate progress' toward his goal to have 2,400 megawatts (MW) of offshore wind in waters off New York's Atlantic Coast by 2030.
The findings of the study will help guide New York's offshore wind development and will support the state's clean energy standard calling for 50 percent of electricity to be produced by renewable energy within the next 12 years, according to a statement from the governor’s office.
Earlier this year, Cuomo announced the New York State’s Offshore Wind Master Plan, which will guide the state in the development of 2,400 MW of offshore wind by 2030, enough to power 1.2 million New York households.
'New York continues to be a national leader in the development of our robust offshore wind industry, aiming to make wind energy as accessible and affordable as possible for all New Yorkers,' Cuomo said, adding they were committed to developing a clean energy economy.
According to the statement, a memorandum of understanding has been signed by New York power agencies and partners to conduct a study of successful offshore wind transmission models - with a specific focus on large-scale European projects - to determine how key learnings can guide the state's procurements of offshore wind generation.
'The New York Power Authority will lead the study, which aims to learn from European infrastructure design, best practices in connecting wind-generated power to transmission networks and the overall power grid, and successes in reducing the cost of delivering wind energy to customers and consumers,' the statement read.
Particular attention will be given to the physical design, including radial and network connections and interconnections between the projects and to the respective onshore transmission systems as well as development and rate structures.
The study will also focus on the ownership structures, business models and financing approaches used in each jurisdiction, as well as the regulatory approaches governing transmission development and cost recovery. Results of the study are expected this fall.
'The findings of the study will be timely as the state looks at transmission costs which the Master Plan estimates could comprise 30 percent of total costs of an offshore wind development,' the statement added.
New York Independent System Operator, the operator of the city’s electricity grid, Con Edison, an energy company providing electric, gas, and steam to NYC and Westchester, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, and Long Island Power Authority will collaborate with the New York Power Authority (NYPA) on the initial phase of the research.
NYPA is the largest state public power organization in the nation, operating 16 generating facilities and more than 1,400 circuit-miles of transmission lines. More than 70 percent of the electricity NYPA produces is clean renewable hydropower.
By Hale Turkes
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr