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Delaware

Updated July 2010

Contacts:

Mark Finfrock,
Delmarva Power and Light
202-872-2680

Overview of Status:

After winning a long term power purchase agreement with Delmarva Power, Bluewater Wind is planning to build a 450 MW wind farm off the Delaware coast. The University of Delaware has been very active in offshore wind-related research.

Proposed Projects:

After a competitive bidding process that included coal and natural gas power plant proposals, Delmarva Power was directed by consensus of the Delaware Public Services Commission, the Office of Management and Budget, the State Controller, and the Department of Natural Resources & Environmental Control to negotiate a long term power purchase agreement with Bluewater Wind.

Bluewater Wind is proposing to build a 450 MW offshore wind farm approximately 12 miles from the coast. Bluewater's projected "Process & Timeline" for its wind farm is available here. A final Power Purchase Agreement has been drafted with Delmarva Power.

Policy and Regulation:

A Governor's Energy Advisory Council has been convened and is in the process of preparing a Delaware Energy Plan for 2009 to 2014. The most recent draft as of July 2010 is available here.

Delaware has a RPS of 20% renewable by 2019. The state government determined that Renewable Energy Credits produced by the Bluewater Wind project would be allowed a 350% multiplier toward meeting utilities' renewable energy obligations.

Studies, Research and Development:

The University of Delaware has conducted extensive offshore wind-related research through the Offshore Wind Power group at the College of Earth, Ocean, and Environment, the Center for Carbon-free Power Integration, and the Center for Energy and Environmental Policy.

On June 15, 2010, the University of Delaware announced a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with NREL for testing offshore wind turbines in Delaware waters. The University will receive $500,000 in funding over the next five years. A news article is available here.

The University of Delaware received a $99,967 grant from DOE in 2009 to complete a project called "Empowering Coastal States and Utilities Through Model Offshore Wind Legislation and Outreach."

The University of Delaware conducted an assessment of offshore wind resources from Massachusetts to North Carolina that took into account both the present state of offshore wind turbine technology and exclusion zones (wildlife, shipping lanes, etc.). The final report assessed the total offshore wind resource in this Atlantic Bight region to be approximately 330 GW, and it recommended building an integrated offshore grid to address fluctuations in output across a large region. The results of the study were published in the January 24, 2007 issue of Geophysical Research Letters, and an abstract is available here.

University of Delaware researchers also conducted a state-specific study called Assessment of Delaware Offshore Wind Power, which included "a mapping model, a valuation model, and a business development model" for offshore wind. This study was published in 2005.

The Delaware Energy Task Force published the report Bright Ideas for Delaware's Energy Future in 2003.