Vineyard Wind 1, a joint venture between Avangrid and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP), successfully delivered its first batch of electricity to the New England grid on January 2nd. As part of its initial commissioning, the offshore wind installation sent approximately 5 MW of power at 11:52 p.m. local time on Tuesday. The project, located 15 miles off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket, is set to feature 62 General Electric Haliade-X turbines capable of generating 13 MW each, with at least five turbines expected to operate at full capacity in the coming months.
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey praised the milestone, stating, "This is a historic moment for the American offshore wind industry. Soon, Vineyard Wind will be producing power equivalent to over 400,000 Massachusetts households." The offshore construction began in late 2022, marking a significant step toward energy independence for Massachusetts. Tim Evans, partner at CIP and Head of North America, described the event as a "milestone for offshore wind and the entire renewable industry in North America."
Vineyard Wind's electricity is delivered via two submarine cables buried up to six feet below the seafloor, ensuring minimal environmental impact. The onshore cables connect to a substation in Hyannis, Massachusetts, and officials have emphasized the significance of the project in reducing the region's carbon footprint.
As the U.S. offshore wind industry gains momentum, Vineyard Wind's achievement follows South Fork Wind, a 132-MW offshore wind project near Long Island, New York, which began producing electricity last month. The first U.S. offshore wind farm, Block Island, started operating in 2017, marking a turning point in the nation's renewable energy landscape.
Source: powermag.com