Power initiated from Vineyard Wind for first time
Power from the Vineyard Wind project was delivered to the New England grid for the first time this according, according to the developers, Avangrid and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP).
At 11:52 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 2, one turbine delivered approximately five megawatts of power, as part of the initial commissioning process. In the coming weeks, additional testing is expected to happen both on and offshore – and sometime in early 2024, the project expects to have five turbines operating at full capacity.
“This is a historic moment for the American offshore wind industry,” Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey said. “Soon, Vineyard Wind will be producing power equivalent of over 400,000 Massachusetts households. This is clean, affordable energy made possible by the many advocates, public servants, union workers, and business leaders who worked for decades to accomplish this achievement. As we look ahead, Massachusetts is on a path toward energy independence thanks to our nation-leading work to stand up the offshore wind industry.”
When it is fully operational, the 806-megawatt project located 15 miles off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard will generate electricity for more than 400,000 homes and businesses in Massachusetts. It will also create 3,600 full-time equivalent (FTE) job years, save customers $1.4 billion over the first 20 years of operation, and reduce carbon emissions by more than 1.6 million metric tons per year.
“2023 was a historic year for offshore wind defined by steel in the water and people at work. Today, we begin a new chapter and welcome 2024 by delivering the first clean offshore wind power to the grid in Massachusetts,” Avangrid CEO Pedro Azagra said. “We’ve arrived at a watershed moment for climate action in the U.S., and a dawn for the American offshore wind industry. As we build on this tremendous progress and work to deliver the full capacity of this historic project, we continue to stand proudly with all the partners that made this achievement possible, including the Biden Administration and the Healey-Driscoll Administration.”
Vineyard Wind 1 is jointly owned by Avangrid and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners through its flagship fund, CI II and III.
“This truly is a milestone for offshore wind and the entire renewable industry in North America. For the first time we have power flowing to the American consumers from a commercial-scale wind project, which marks the dawn of a new era for American renewables and the green transition,” Tim Evans, partner at CIP and head of North America, said. “By delivering first power, we have broken new ground and shown a viable path forward with power that is renewable, locally produced, and affordable.”
Power from turbines connects to the New England grid in Barnstable, transmitted by underground cables that connect to a substation further inland on Cape Cod. Once completed, the project will consist of 62 wind turbines to generate 806 Megawatts.
Vineyard Wind began offshore construction in late 2022 and completed the nation’s first offshore substation in July.
