Royal Dutch Shell has boosted its expansion into the offshore wind sector with two deals to establish a significant position in the nascent US industry.

The Anglo-Dutch energy group has splashed out $175 million over the past week on the rights to develop hundreds of turbines in the waters off New Jersey and Massachusetts, which could power more than 1.5 million homes.

Dorine Bosman, vice-president for wind development at Shell, below, said its expertise from developing offshore oil and gas fields should help it to compete against established offshore wind players to secure subsidy contracts needed for the proposed wind farms to go ahead.

Royal Dutch Shell reported net profits of $12 billion last year from operations spanning more than 70 countries. It generates the…