Orsted and Dominion Energy Virginia have filed plans for approval with state regulators for the 12MW Coastal Virginia offshore wind farm off the US east coast.
The State Corporation Commission will now consider the proposals for the two-turbine demo, which would be located in a 864-hectare federal lease area about 44km off the coast of Virginia Beach.
The hardware will be installed in 24 metres of water and have heights of over 167 metres, the developers said.
Onshore construction is expected to start next year, if the project receives regulatory approval, with turbine installation the following year.
Coastal Virginia is scheduled to come online by December 2020.
The developers said the $300m project will provide permitting, construction and operational experience, and could pave the way for a further 2GW of offshore capacity in an adjacent lease area.
The project will be funded through existing base rates, enabled by the Grid Transformation & Security Act.
Orsted North America president Thomas Brostrom said: “This project will provide us vital experience in constructing an offshore wind project in the US and serve as a stepping stone to a larger commercial-scale partnership between our companies in the future.
“We see the tremendous potential in the Mid-Atlantic for emission-free, renewable wind generation and we are excited to help the Commonwealth in reaping the benefits of wind power.”
Dominion Energy chairman, president and chief executive Thomas Farrell said: “Today’s announcement further affirms our commitment to a new era of clean, renewable energy for the Commonwealth.
“We are truly excited to bring offshore wind to Virginians for the first time.”
Image: Orsted
Orsted files 12MW Coastal Virginia
By EBS