Shell, as well as Norway's Statoil (>> Statoil ASA), qualified to participate in the upcoming leasing round offshore Kitty Hawk, the U.S. interior ministry said on Tuesday. The lease award is set for March 16.

Shell's core business of producing oil and gas is reeling after more than two years of weak prices.

The company has limited experience in building offshore wind farms but last month won a bid to build a 700-megawatt offshore wind farm in the Netherlands, together with more experienced partners.

Statoil is also increasing its presence in the sector and last month secured a lease to build a wind farm offshore New York.

Energy companies Avangrid Inc (>> Avangrid Inc) and Enbridge Inc (>> Enbridge Inc) were also among the shortlisted firms.

(Reporting by Karolin Schaps; editing by Susan Thomas)

Stocks treated in this article : Enbridge Inc, Statoil ASA, Avangrid Inc