Vineyard Wind to Feed First Power Into Massachusetts Grid by Year-End

December 7, 2023, by Adnan Memija

Avangrid and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) have installed the first five GE Haliade-X turbines at the Vineyard Wind offshore wind project and are preparing to deliver first power from their wind farm to the electric grid in Massachusetts, the US.

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Once energized in the coming weeks, Vineyard Wind 1, the first large-scale offshore wind project in the US, will deliver approximately 65 MW of clean energy from five GE Haliade-X 13 MW turbines, enough to power 30,000 homes and businesses in Massachusetts, according to Avangrid.

The power will interconnect to the New England grid in Barnstable, transmitted by underground cables that connect to a substation further inland on Cape Cod.

Before generating first power, Avangrid said it must complete several critical tests and technical milestones, including final testing of the array and export cables, and energization of the offshore substation.

According to the developer, Vineyard Wind 1 remains on track to deliver first power before the end of the year.

“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,” said Pedro Azagra, Avangrid CEO.

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.

In October, DEME’s jack-up Sea Installer installed the first wind turbine at the location site some 15 miles (approximately 24 kilometres) off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard.

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Once completed, the project will consist of 62 wind turbines to generate 806 MW, enough to power more than 400,000 homes and businesses in Massachusetts.