Leading Light Wind requests another delay for its 2.4-GW New Jersey offshore wind project due to equipment procurement challenges.
Offshore wind developer Leading Light Wind is seeking yet another delay on its 2.4-GW project off New Jersey after suffering a spate of difficulties sourcing the required hardware. The farm was awarded as part of New Jersey's third round of offshore wind solicitation but will supply power for up to one million households every year, in the wake of a tough market.
The partnership between lead developer Invenergy and co-developer energyRe LLC filed with the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities a request for an extension of its contract pause until May 20, 2025. This comes after an initial pause granted in September 2025, soon after the company won the project. Despite the numerous attempts to acquire turbines and other essential equipment, the offshore wind market remains plagued by extreme price volatility and supply chain issues. According to Leading Light Wind, it has yet to find a solution to these problems.
The project is designed to be about 40 miles off the coast of New Jersey and has a provision for battery energy storage to add 253 MW. It is one of the measures in the strategy devised by the developer to improve the grid strength in response to increased demand for renewable energy.
Issues with turbine procurement have only added to the project's problems. Initially, Vestas turbines were ruled out for the site, and the cost of Siemens Gamesa turbines has gone up manifold. The latest is that GE Vernova has scrapped plans for an 18-MW turbine, adding further uncertainty to the timeline.
Leading Light Wind's application is reflective of the ongoing problems the offshore wind industry is facing as developers navigate volatile markets and unpredictable supply chains.
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