Eversource Secures USD 89 Million for Offshore Wind Hub in Connecticut

August 20, 2024, by Adnan Memija

Eversource Energy, a US utility company, has secured a federal grant of USD 89 million (approximately EUR 80 million) to fund the development of new infrastructure aimed at enabling the interconnection of approximately 2.4 GW of offshore wind capacity throughout several states in New England.

The Huntsbrook Offshore Wind (OSW) Hub consists of building a new 345 kV switching station in southeastern Connecticut at Huntsbrook Junction in Montville.

This station will create a new interconnection point for future offshore wind developers to deliver 2.4 GW of offshore wind via high-voltage transmission lines from the offshore wind farm to the hub.

The utility company expects to develop and submit requests for necessary permits in late 2024, with review processes that could last through 2027. Eversource anticipates construction to commence in 2028 and continue through 2031, once all the approvals are in place.

Eversource said it will utilise existing utility property and rights of way to avoid unnecessary environmental impacts and significant disruptions to local communities while providing the benefits of energy cost savings and enhanced workforce development programmes.

latest news

The Huntsbrook OSW Hub builds upon Eversource’s track record of building the infrastructure necessary to enable offshore wind projects to connect to the electric grid in the Northeast, said the company.

Eversource led the transmission construction for South Fork Wind in Long Island, New York, the first operational commercial-scale offshore wind project in the US.

The company is also currently leading the transmission construction for Revolution Wind, which will provide power to Connecticut and Rhode Island, Sunrise Wind in New York, and Eversource’s Cape Cod Solution.

The Huntsbrook OSW Hub was awarded USD 89 million in federal grant funding through the second round of the US Department of Energy’s (DOE) Grid Innovation Program. The proposal was included in the Power Up New England project portfolio, which was selected to receive USD 389 million in total funding through the DOE programme.