Milestone Achievement: US Grid Powered by Offshore Wind Sites for the First Time

Massive wind turbine blades are piled on racks in the harbor for the Vineyard Winds project.Photo byCharles Krupa

Offshore wind energy is hitting a significant milestone in the United States as turbines at two major wind farm projects are now contributing electricity to the grid, marking a groundbreaking moment.

Vineyard Wind, a venture led by Avangrid and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, has commenced transmitting power to the Massachusetts grid from one of its installed turbines. Positioned 15 miles off the Massachusetts coast, this farm will encompass 62 turbines, with five already in place. The operational turbine contributed approximately 5 megawatts of power, with the remaining four undergoing testing and anticipated to be operational soon.

Additionally, Ørsted and Eversource’s South Fork Wind project, located 35 miles east of Montauk Point, New York, has also commenced sending electricity to the grid from its initial turbine. This project, which will eventually feature 12 turbines, now has a total of five turbines installed.

Avangrid CEO Pedro Azagra expressed pride in this historic moment, emphasizing that the transmission of clean offshore wind power signifies a significant leap for the American offshore wind industry. He highlighted the importance of this progress for climate action, aligning with the recent global commitment at COP28 to amplify renewable energy usage, a move pivotal in reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

The U.S. has encountered challenges in developing offshore wind farms, despite their long-standing success in Europe and Asia. Vineyard Wind serves as a crucial initiative to reignite the industry within the United States, countering the belief that it was at a standstill. Prior projects, like Cape Wind off Massachusetts, faced opposition and setbacks, delaying the progress of offshore wind initiatives.

Vineyard Wind's significant offshore location and its scope as the first utility-scale wind power development in federal waters have marked it as a game-changer. The project, which initially stalled under the previous administration, gained momentum under the Biden administration, receiving approval in 2021, leading to onshore construction and assembly preparations.

The 800-megawatt Vineyard Wind project aims to power over 400,000 homes and businesses in Massachusetts. Officials, including Governor Maura Healey and New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell, hailed this achievement, emphasizing the collaborative efforts of various stakeholders, advocates, public servants, union workers, and business leaders in realizing this milestone for clean and affordable energy.