A significant milestone has been reached in the development of South Fork Wind, New York State’s inaugural offshore wind farm. With the installation of the first wind turbine, this project, a collaboration between Ørsted and Eversource, marks a crucial step toward providing clean energy to the region.
The successful installation involved hoisting the initial SG 11-200 DD Siemens Gamesa wind turbine into position at the project site, situated 35 miles off Montauk, New York. Van Oord’s offshore installation vessel, the Aeolus, played a pivotal role in this process. The intricate assembly included placing the steel turbine tower onto the foundation, followed by the installation of the nacelle and rotor. The blades, crucial components for energy generation, were meticulously lifted and attached one by one to complete the setup.
Ørsted, a Danish renewables giant, and Eversource, a Boston-based energy provider, are joint developers of South Fork Wind. The offshore wind farm, encompassing 12 turbines, represents the first completed utility-scale wind farm in federal waters in the United States. Construction milestones, including the installation of the first turbine foundation in June and the completion of the first US-built offshore substation in July, underscore the project’s progress.
Anticipated to generate enough clean energy to power 70,000 homes in New York, South Fork Wind will contribute directly to the electric grid in East Hampton through a dedicated transmission line. This energy will be supplied to the Long Island Power Authority under a 20-year agreement. Importantly, the wind farm is projected to eliminate up to 6 million tons of carbon emissions, equivalent to taking 60,000 cars off the road annually over a 25-year period.
The construction of South Fork Wind is a collaborative effort involving hundreds of US workers and three ports in the Northeast. With the installation of all 12 turbines expected to conclude by the end of 2023 or early 2024, the project stands as a testament to the nation’s commitment to expanding clean and sustainable energy sources.
