Danish Firm to Supply Turbines for Equinor’s 810-MW Empire Wind 1 Project
By Simon West
Vestas has won its first order in the U.S. for an offshore platform after securing a deal to supply turbines for Equinor’s 810-megawatt (MW) Empire Wind 1 project off the coast of New York.
The order calls for the turbine maker to supply, deliver and commission 54 of its “flagship” V236-15.0 MW offshore turbines for the first of the two-phase Empire Wind project, located 15 to 30 miles southeast of Long Island.
Empire Wind I will be the first offshore wind project in the U.S. to plug directly into the New York City grid, with first power slated for dispatch in late 2026. The delivery of the turbines is expected to begin in 2026 with completion scheduled for 2027.
“Delivering our commercially ready V236-15.0 MW for our first U.S. offshore project is a moment of huge pride for Vestas North America, and we’re poised to continue leading the build-out of U.S. offshore wind with our industry-leading technology at the forefront of it,” said John Eggers, chief technology officer (CTO) at Vestas North America.
Equinor is currently overseeing the overhaul of the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal in Sunset Park, New York, which is set to become one of the largest dedicated port facilities for offshore wind in the U.S. and a world-class offshore wind hub.
The SBMT will be equipped to handle V236-15.0 MW turbines, housing the infrastructure for activities such as load-in, load-out and transport of wind components, tools and containers before progressing toward installation and commissioning.
A Nascent Industry
Empire Wind is one of several offshore wind projects either under active construction or in development along the U.S. East Coast.
Uncertainty in previous years over leasing and permitting processes has hampered the sector’s progress, although the Biden-Harris administration has backed the nascent industry as part of an ambitious clean energy construction drive.
By early September, the Interior Department had approved more than 15 gigawatts (GW) of capacity – enough to power 5.25 million homes. The American Clean Power Association (ACP) estimates that 14 GW of offshore wind will have been deployed by the end of the decade, rising to 30 GW by 2033 and 40 GW by 2035.
The ACP also predicts US$65 billion in investments in the sector by 2030, with offshore development, construction and operations supporting up to 56,000 jobs.
Vestas is a member of the Breakbulk Global Shipper Network.
TOP PHOTO: A V236-15.0-MW wind blade is transported in Østerild, Denmark. CREDIT: Vestas
SECOND: A V236-15.0-MW prototype in snowy Denmark. CREDIT: Vestas
