Avangrid and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) are preparing to deliver first power from their 800MW Vineyard Wind project in the US after installing the first five GE Haliade-X turbines.
Once energised in the coming weeks, the site will deliver approximately 65MW of clean energy from the turbines, enough to power 30,000 homes and businesses in Massachusetts.
The power from the first five machines will interconnect to the New England grid in Barnstable, transmitted by underground cables connecting to a substation further inland on Cape Cod.
Before generating first power, Avangrid must complete several critical tests and technical milestones, including final testing of the array and export cables, and energisation of the offshore substation which is one of the largest built in the global offshore industry.
Vineyard Wind 1 remains on track to deliver first power before the end of the year. Once completed, the project will consist of 62 wind turbines to generate 806MW, enough to power more than 400,000 homes and businesses in Massachusetts.
“Our team has worked tremendously hard, through nights, weekends, and holidays to put us in the position to deliver the first power from Avangrid’s nation-leading Vineyard Wind 1 project before the end of the year,” said Avangrid chief executive Pedro Azagra.
“Today, we have fully installed the first five turbines of this historic project, representing a new frontier for climate action and the clean energy revolution in the United States.
“We look forward to working through the final technical requirements and flipping the switch to deliver these first green electrons to 30,000 homes and businesses in Massachusetts, proving that with skill, expertise, and perseverance, the dream of offshore wind in America is real.”