US Greenlights First Offshore Wind Project to Connect to New York’s Grid

March 14, 2024, by Adnan Memija

Equinor has been granted authorisation from the US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to link the Empire Wind 1 offshore wind project directly into New York’s transmission system.

Approved on 1 March, the Large Generator Interconnection Agreement (LGIA) executed between Equinor’s Empire Wind 1 project, New York ISO (NYISO), and Consolidated Edison Company of New York marks the first such approval by FERC ever.

“This federal approval marks the culmination of a years-long process under NYISO and is another important step in allowing Equinor to advance a project that will connect offshore renewable power to Brooklyn and into hundreds of thousands of New York homes,” said Teddy Muhlfelder, vice president of Equinor Renewables Americas.

FERC’s approval allows the 810 MW Empire Wind 1 offshore wind project to connect through the Sunset Park Onshore Substation at South Brooklyn Marine Terminal (SBMT) into the New York City electrical grid at Con Edison’s Gowanus substation.

This announcement is the latest in a series of milestones for Empire Wind 1, which was selected as a provisional winner in New York’s fourth offshore wind solicitation on 29 February.

The project also received approval of its federal Construction and Operations Plan (COP) from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management last month. In addition, a Clean Air Act permit was granted in February to New York’s Empire Offshore Wind LLC owned by Equinor.

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Equinor expects to take a final investment decision on Empire Wind 1 in mid-2024. Once the project reaches financial close, it will move into the construction stage with the first power expected to be produced in 2026.

A key component of the 810 MW project is the transformation of the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal (SBMT) in Sunset Park, where Equinor will build Empire Wind’s operations and maintenance (O&M) facility, with construction scheduled to begin this Spring.