Dutch fabricator Sif’s foundation production schedule for the 800MW Vineyard offshore wind farm in the US will be delayed following a request by federal authorities for additional environmental studies for the project off Massachusetts.
The Roermond-based company said it “has become inevitable” that manufacturing of 84 monopiles, which was to take place in the first half of 2020, will be held up.
Sif said it expects to get clarity from project developer Vineyard Wind in the next four to six weeks on what impact the request by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management will have on the contract and the project.
“Only at that time it will be clear if there is a financial impact beyond the provisions in the contract and what mitigating actions Sif is able to take,” added a statement.
Sif has “allowed for a delay of a few months in their planning and included decision moments on the planning in their contract”.
“Sif is studying the consequences of mitigation options beyond the contractually agreed delay decision moments.”
The Dutch fabricator added that the “unexpected” BOEM request “is a good example of the volatility of the offshore wind market”.