Avangrid and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners on Jan. 3 announced that power from the Vineyard Wind offshore wind project was delivered to the New England grid for the first time.
As part of the initial commissioning process, at 11:52 p.m. on January 2, one turbine delivered approximately five megawatts of power, with additional testing expected to happen both on and offshore in the coming weeks.
The project expects to have five turbines operating at full capacity early in 2024.
Power from the project interconnects to the New England grid in Barnstable, Mass., transmitted by underground cables that connect to a substation further inland on Cape Cod. Once completed, the project will consist of 62 wind turbines generating 806 megawatts.
Vineyard Wind 1 is jointly owned by Avangrid and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners through its flagship fund, CI II and III. The project is being developed and constructed by Avangrid and Vineyard Offshore, CIP’s affiliate development company working on U.S. offshore projects.
Vineyard Wind began offshore construction in late 2022, achieved steel-in-the-water in June, and completed the nation’s first offshore substation in July. Construction flows through the New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal.
New York Offshore Wind Project Delivers Power
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on Dec. 6 announced the successful delivery of power to Long Island from the first operational wind turbine at South Fork Wind, “marking a historic milestone of the first utility-scale offshore wind farm in federal waters to begin ‘powering up’ in the United States,” Hochul’s office said.
The project has completed the installation of two turbines, with one operational, approximately 35 miles off Montauk with all 12 turbines expected to be installed by early 2024.
The development “marks a significant step towards implementing Governor Hochul’s vision of a sustainable and resilient energy future for New York,” said Long Island Power Authority CEO Thomas Falcone.
“Nearly eight years in the making, this first offshore wind turbine producing energy transforms that vision into a reality. LIPA is proud to support this landmark project on behalf of our 1.2 million customers on Long Island and in the Rockaways,” he said.
