Description
Ørsted’s Skipjack Wind will be Maryland’s first offshore wind project off the coast of the Delmarva Peninsula. It will occupy a 24.37 square km lease area, have an installed capacity of 966 megawatts, and power over 300,000 homes in the region. Skipjack Wind is scheduled to be operational in the second quarter of 2026.
Skipjack Wind 2 is Ørsted’s second offshore wind energy project in Maryland. It will be located adjacent to the company’s 120 MW Skipjack Wind 1. Ørsted will build Skipjack Wind 1 and 2 as one project, with operations expected to begin in 2026.
Location
At their closest, Skipjack Wind’s turbines are projected to be 24-25 km from the Delaware coast and 32 km from Maryland. It will connect to PJM, a regional electric grid serving several states, at its installation base in Baltimore, Maryland.
Licensing Information
- 2018, June: Incidental Take Authorization, Geophysical Survey for Skipjack Wind by NOAA
- 2018, June: Incidental Harassment Authorization Issued by BOEM
Project Timeline
- 2027, October: Anticipated Operations Start
- 2026, April: Anticipated Offshore Construction Start
- 2025, January: Anticipated Financial Close
- 2018, June: BOEM Lease OCS-A 0519 (Skipjack Wind) Approved
- 2017, May: Offtake Conditionally Secured
- 2012, October: Site Exclusivity Secured
- 2012, February: Feasibility Study
- 2011, April: Determination of No Competitive Interest (DNCI)
- 2011, February: Request for Competitive Interest (RFCI) Approval
- 2009, June: Interim Policy Lease Awarded and Executed
Key Environmental Issues
Per Ørsted's environmental stewardship statement, Ørsted is committed to building and operating offshore wind in a way that’s environmentally responsible. This is of vital importance in an area like the Delmarva Peninsula, which is home to numerous diverse and unique ecosystems, from the Chesapeake Bay to its saltwater marshes.
Ørsted’s teams in Annapolis and on the Eastern Shore are working with local leaders, wildlife advocates, fishing communities, and other coastal and maritime stakeholders to address environmental concerns and develop mitigation measures.
As part of this important work, Ørsted recently provided a $50,000 grant to the Center for Inland Bays. This funding will help the center expand education and environmental research on horseshoe crabs, as well as programs to utilize oysters for water filtration. This initiative is just one example of Ørsted’s commitment to biodiversity and leadership in ensuring the responsible development of clean energy.
Environmental Papers and Reports
Baseline Assessment: SkipJack Wind
| Receptor | Design and Methods | Results | Publications | Data |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marine Mammals, Reptiles | Marine Mammal Surveys During the survey, a minimum of four protected species observers were on board each vessel that operated on a 24-hour basis from April 4th to December 4th 2021. Geophysical survey equipment used during this project was comprised of beacons, parametric echosounders (Innomar), and single channel sub-bottom profilers (sub-bottom profiler, sparkers). Mysticetus Observational Software was used to record operational and environmental information. | Complete
The most frequently observed marine mammal species included: bottlenose dolphin, short-nosed common dolphin, and fin whale. Altantic spotted dolphin, Rissos dolphin, and humback whale were also observed during surveys. The most frequently observed sea turtle species included: leatherback sea turtle and loggerhead sea turtle. Green sea turtle were also observed during surveys. | Gardline Ltd. 2022 | No data publicly available. |
| Physical Environment | Geological Site Investigations Ørsted will conduct offshore site investigations off Delaware’s coast starting in September 2023 in support of Skipjack Wind’s development. The purpose of the survey is to collect data about the seafloor and the geology beneath it, and to identify archaeological resources and debris left by other ocean users. | Ongoing Results pending | Gardline Ltd. 2022 | No data publicly available. |