Ørsted US Offshore Wind will support academic research activities related to offshore wind at Rutgers University under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed today.
Under the agreement, Ørsted will make an initial contribution to the university, followed by additional funding contingent upon being granted an OREC application by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU). Ørsted submitted an application for its Ocean Wind project to the NJBPU in December 2018 to develop the first offshore wind farm in the state. The announcement for the award is expected from the NJBPU in summer 2019.
“Rutgers University is a premiere institution that can provide us with ongoing research that will help propel the New Jersey offshore wind industry forward,” said Thomas Brostrøm, CEO of Ørsted U.S. Offshore Wind and president of Ørsted North America. “We are very happy to partner with them as we progress with our Ocean Wind project.”
The MOU was signed through Rutgers’ Corporate Engagement Center, a joint effort between the university’s Office of Research and Economic Development and Rutgers University Foundation, and will support research conducted at the Rutgers University Center for Ocean Observing Leadership (RUCOOL). Part of the Department of Marine and Coastal Science, RUCOOL is dedicated to discovering, communicating about and providing access to the world’s ocean through interdisciplinary scientific research, education, and outreach programs.
“As a coastal state, New Jersey is perfectly situated to lead in offshore wind development and to pave the way for developing more sustainable, renewable energy sources to reduce our carbon footprint. At Rutgers, we are committed to leveraging our research capabilities, working with state partners, and providing the best possible science to build offshore wind responsibly,” said S. David Kimball, PhD, Interim Senior Vice President for Research and Economic Development at Rutgers. “Partnerships like this one with Ørsted allow us to enhance our research projects related to offshore wind and provide an opportunity to actively participate in the launch of a new industry that can have far-reaching economic benefits for our state.”
Located 15 miles off the coast of Atlantic City, New Jersey, Ocean Wind will create more than 1,000 jobs during construction and is able to power more than 500,000 homes in the state.
Article and Photo Credit: https://njbmagazine.com