The 806MW Vineyard Wind 1 offshore wind project has delivered power to the New England grid for the first time.
Owners Avangrid and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) announced as part of the initial commissioning process, one turbine delivered approximately 5MW of power, with additional testing expected to happen both on and offshore in the coming weeks.
The project expects to have five machines operating at full capacity early in 2024.
Avangrid chief executive Pedro Azagra said: “2023 was a historic year for offshore wind defined by steel in the water and people at work.
“Today, we begin a new chapter and welcome 2024 by delivering the first clean offshore wind power to the grid in Massachusetts.
“We’ve arrived at a watershed moment for climate action in the US, and a dawn for the American offshore wind industry.
“As we build on this tremendous progress and work to deliver the full capacity of this historic project, we continue to stand proudly with all the partners that made this achievement possible, including the Biden Administration and the Healey-Driscoll Administration.”
Partner at CIP and head of North America Tim Evans added: “This truly is a milestone for offshore wind and the entire renewables industry in North America.
“For the first time we have power flowing to the American consumers from a commercial-scale wind project, which marks the dawn of a new era for American renewables and the green transition.
“By delivering first power, we have broken new ground and shown a viable path forward with power that is renewable, locally produced, and affordable.
“Much of the credit for this milestone must go to our local partners, labour leaders and the project’s skilled union workforce, and local communities from New Bedford to Barnstable.”
Power from the projects interconnects to the New England grid in Barnstable, transmitted by underground cables that connect to a substation further inland on Cape Cod.
Once completed, the project will consist of 62 turbines, enough to power more than 400,000 homes and businesses in Massachusetts.