The 12MW Virginia offshore wind demonstration project has been cleared to install and operate two 6MW turbines in federal waters off Virginia Beach.
The US Bureau of Ocean Energy management has approved the country’s first ‘research activities plan’, which lays out construction, operation and decommissioning plans for the turbines and cabling to shore.
The milestone “marks another important step in our mission to be the first state to install offshore wind turbines in federal waters off of Virginia’s coast,” said Virginia governor Terry McAuliffe.
“This research project is the gateway to commercial development of offshore wind, which will help diversify our Commonwealth’s energy mix and support our efforts to a build a new Virginia economy.”
BOEM also granted an easement for the transmission cable route and approved DNV GL as the certified verification agent for the project.
The bureau last year awarded a research lease to the proponents, utility Dominion Power and the state Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy.
The pilot project, dubbed VOWTAP, was awarded $47m in federal funds and must meet certain milestones to qualify for the full amount.
The demo consists of a pair of GE Haliade 150 6MW turbines on Keystone twisted jacket foundations built 27 miles offshore.
Dominion has been negotiating with supply and installation contractors in an effort to cut costs. The utility has said it expects to seek state approval in mid 2016 for its investment in the project.
The trial project is planned next to Dominion’s 2GW commercial lease area and is meant to set the stage for development of a 500MW wind farm to be built in about 10 years.
Image: Virginia Beach (reNews)
