Dominion Energy has installed the first turbine foundation at the 2600MW Coastal Virginia offshore wind farm (CVOW) in the US.
DEME Offshore vessel Orion put in place the EEW-supplied monopile at the site 29 miles off Virginia Beach at what is the largest US offshore wind farm to date.
Once complete in late 2026, CVOW will consist of 176 Siemens Gamesa turbines.
“This is a monumental day for the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind team, who have worked tirelessly to keep this project on budget and on schedule to provide our customers with reliable, affordable and increasingly clean energy,” said Robert M. Blue, Dominion Energy’s chair, president and chief executive officer.
“We are taking extensive precautions to ensure this project is fully protective of the environment and to protect marine species.”
“We are proud to partner with Dominion Energy on this landmark project,” added Bill White, President DEME Offshore US.
“DEME’s Orion vessel, equipped with industry-leading Vibro Hammer technology, is uniquely designed to efficiently install CVOW’s massive monopiles, all weighing over 1,000 tons.
“Our talented project team will include skilled American union pile drivers, creating a robust and prepared workforce. We look forward to working with our consortium partner Prysmian to help deliver Virginia-made energy to the Commonwealth.”
Dominion Energy will continue to install monopiles through the fall of 2024 and resume installations in May 2025.
To be protective of the endangered North Atlantic right whale, no monopiles will be installed between November 1 and April 30, the time that the whales are expected to be migrating past the project area.
Additional measures to protect whales and other aquatic life include the use of bubble curtains – perforated hoses that have air pumped through them – to create a wall of bubbles around the monopiles during installation to reduce soundwaves underwater.
Vessels will also be staffed by Protected Species Observers and will adhere to speed restrictions to avoid collisions with protected species.