Buzz building at Block Island

National Grid has started energizing the transmission line for Deepwater Wind’s 30MW Block Island offshore wind project in the US state of Rhode Island.

The utility has completed all the electrical work at its new substation on Block Island and is wrapping up substation work on the mainland. 

“In the next few days we will have final transmission interconnection tests complete,” Deepwater CEO Jeffrey Grybowski said at the AWEA offshore conference.

Turbine supplier GE is in final commissioning of the five Haliade 150 6MW machines at the site, some 5km southeast of Block Island.

“We are right on schedule” to deliver the first block of offshore wind energy to the US mainland grid in mid-November, “right before Thanksgiving”, said Grybowski.

National Grid will buy the output at $0.24/kWh with a 3.5% annual increase under a 20-year deal.

New York-based hedge fund DE Shaw, the principal owner of Deepwater, supplied more than $70m in equity funding for Block Island.

GE Energy Financial Services and Citigroup provided tax equity financing, while Societe Generale and KeyBank NA kicked in more than $290m in project financing.

Image: the Block Island offshore wind project (Deepwater Wind)