Dominion Energy, Ørsted to partner for offshore wind project

An agreement between Dominion Energy in Virginia and the Denmark-based Ørsted provided the first steps of development for Virginia’s first offshore wind facility.

The facility — the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Project (CVOW) — would consist of two 6-megawatt turbines, supported by a grid infrastructure linking them to the coast. While a research vessel still needs to conduct final ocean floor mapping before construction, the corporate pair has already filed for approval with the Virginia State Corporation Commission.

“Today’s announcement further affirms our commitment to a new era of clean, renewable energy for the Commonwealth,” Thomas Farrell II, Dominion Energy’s chairman, president and CEO, said. “We are truly excited to bring offshore wind to Virginians for the first time.”

The turbines will be positioned approximately 27 miles off of Virginia Beach and rise more than 550 over the water’s surface. If created, it will be the second commercial-scale offshore installation in the United States and cost approximately $300 million. The facility is expected to be generating energy by December 2020.

Ørsted was chosen for the project due to their long history with offshore wind turbine installations and global operations. To date, they are responsible for more than 1,000 offshore wind turbines.

“Ørsted is the energy supplier in Europe that has come the farthest in the transition to renewable energy, and we are excited to bring our expertise to Virginia,” Thomas Brostrøm, Ørsted’s North American president, said. “This project will provide us vital experience in constructing an offshore wind project in the United States and serve as a stepping stone to a larger commercial-scale partnership between our companies in the future. We see the tremendous potential in the Mid-Atlantic for emission-free, renewable wind generation and we are excited to help the Commonwealth in reaping the benefits of wind power.”