As part of their commitment to build the US offshore wind energy supply chain, Orsted and Eversource investments are enabling the expansion of a facility that will produce the first subsea transmission cables made in the country.
Nexans will build subsea cables in South Carolina for the companies’ projects in the Northeast and for the international offshore wind energy market.
In 2019 Orsted and Eversource entered into a framework agreement with Nexans, committing to purchase subsea cables for their Northeast offshore wind farms.
Nexans will manufacture approximately 620 miles of subsea cabling, with the first delivery of cables expected in 2022.
The joint venture partners’ investment helped provide the demand necessary to support Nexans’ $220m (€190m) expansion of its facility, which will create more than 160 net new, local clean energy jobs.
Orsted Offshore North America chief executive David Hardy said: “We’re focused on building a domestic supply chain from the ground up, bringing jobs and investment to communities all across the country.
“Our partnership with Nexans is just the latest example of our commitment to building a new US manufacturing industry.
“We’re partnering with US companies to build new capabilities and helping to attract international companies to the US to help meet America’s clean energy goals.”
Eversource Energy president and chief executive Joe Nolan added: “A few years ago, we made a commitment to Nexans to utilize their cables for our offshore wind portfolio.
“Today, this investment is helping grow the domestic offshore wind supply chain, creating new clean energy jobs right here at home.
“These American-made cables will benefit our projects by ensuring efficient energy transmission to the communities we’ll serve, as we deliver enough clean, renewable energy to power more than 1 million US homes with plans to double that amount.”
Among the largest offshore wind partnerships in the United States, the Orsted and Eversource joint venture is playing a unique role in the development of a domestic offshore wind supply chain.
This year, the companies announced the commencement of the first American-built offshore wind substation, which will be deployed for the South Fork Wind project.
The companies also recently announced plans to build advanced foundation components for their Sunrise Wind Project at the Port of Coeymans in New York creating more than 230 local jobs.
In December 2016, Orsted and Eversource teamed up to launch a new clean energy industry in the Northeast.
This partnership has now grown to include three offshore wind farms including the 704MW Revolution Wind project serving Rhode Island and Connecticut; the 130MW South Fork Wind serving Long Island, and the 924MW Sunrise Wind project serving New York.
All together, these projects will generate 1760MW of clean, renewable energy – enough to power more than 1 million homes with the potential to more than double the existing portfolio within current joint lease areas.