Wind power

Shell's involvement in offshore wind

Offshore wind is a key growth area for Shell. Around the world, millions of people live inside 40 kilometres (25 miles) of a coastline where winds are strong and steady, making offshore wind a great option for renewable power.

Shell's offshore wind projects include:

NoordzeeWind (operational)

The Egmond aan Zee wind farm off the Dutch coast is a 50-50 joint venture between European utility company Nuon and Shell. The first large wind farm to be built in the North Sea, it comprises 36 wind turbines that produce enough renewable electricity for more than 100,000 Dutch households.

Blauwwind (in development)

Shell is also a 20% shareholder in the Blauwwind Consortium that will build and operate the Borssele 3&4 wind farm off the Dutch coast, with a total installed capacity of 731.5MW, enough to power around 825,000 Dutch homes.

Offshore US (in development)

Shell is a 50% shareholder in Atlantic Shores in New Jersey that is working to develop an offshore lease area capable of generating 2.5 gigawatts (GW) of power.

Shell is also a 50% shareholder in the Mayflower consortium, which is working to develop a lease area off the coast of Massachusetts, USA. That site will have the potential to generate 1.6GW of power that will power more than 680,000 US homes.

Floating and kite wind

Shell is also exploring new technology. We have partnered with Makani, an independent company within Alphabet, to bring their airborne wind power system to offshore environments. We are also a major shareholder in Tetraspar Demo - a new floating turbine foundation, that offers leaner manufacturing, assembly and installation leading to lower costs.

Shell's involvement in onshore wind

Shell first invested in US onshore wind in 2001. Today we have four operating wind farms onshore in the USA. These are:

Rock River (Wyoming)

Shell has been delivering renewable wind power from the Rock River windfarm in Wyoming, USA, since 2001. Rock River, which Shell co-owns with US renewables company, Terra-Gen, produces enough electricity to power 25,000 US homes.

Brazos (Texas)

The Brazos windfarm in Fluvanna, Texas, sits south east of Lubbock, on the Caprock of the Llano Estacado. The 160-megawatt site consists of 160 Mitsubishi turbines and can provide enough energy to power around 48,000 US homes.

Whitewater Hill (California)

Shell co-owns Whitewater Hill with US renewables company Terra-Gen. The 61.5-megawatt wind farm, located north-west of Palm Springs, California, has more than 1,400 turbines and generates over 520 megawatts. Each year, the project is estimated to produce enough energy to power around 12,000 US homes.

Cabazon (California)

Cabazon is also co-owned with Terra-Gen and features 62 turbines that can produce 660 kilowatts. The 41-megawatt wind farm is located in the San Gorgonio Pass west of Palm Springs, California. Each year, the project is estimated to produce enough electricity to power around 12,000 US homes.