The Block Island Wind Farm, operated by Deepwater Wind, has completed the construction phase, according to the firm's CEO Jeff Grybowski. The executive tweeted out a photo of the moment when the last turbine blade was installed on 18 August (Thursday), offshore Rhode Island.
The #BlockIslandWindFarm is now fully constructed. 1st in US @DeepwaterWind pic.twitter.com/vuKIk97bzR
— Jeff Grybowski (@JGrybowski) August 18, 2016
The Block Island Wind Farm is on track to become the first offshore wind farm in operation offshore America. The milestone was celebrated around the industry.
“I congratulate Deepwater Wind on completing construction on America’s first offshore wind farm, the Block Island Wind Farm off of Rhode Island," said NOIA President Randall Luthi today (19 August). "The completion of any offshore energy project is no small feat; the road from concept to completion can be very lengthy and rife with challenging regulatory hurdles, unanticipated permitting delays, and vocal environmental opposition alongside enthusiastic public support.
"We will need all forms of offshore energy, both traditional and renewable, to meet growing US and global energy demands. The Block Island Wind Farm is a remarkable first step in that direction for America’s emerging offshore wind industry. I am proud that NOIA members Gulf Island Fabrication and Montco Offshore contributed to this historic achievement."
Once completed, Block Island, 3nm offshore Rhode Island, will have 30MW capacity, made up of five Haliade 150 6MW offshore wind turbines. The turbines, which are twice the height of the Statue of Liberty with blade tips towering 600ft above the water, will be provided by Alstom, which was acquired by GE in late 2015.
The Fred.Olsen Windcarrier's Brave Tern, arrived onsite in late July, to lend its services as the wind farm project's main installation vessel. The 433ft-jackup, equipped with cranes capable of lifting 800-ton, traveled from France to Rhode Island with five nacelles from GE Renewable Energy onboard, Deepwater Wind said in a press announcement back on 28 July. Assisting the Brave Tern were the Montco Offshore-operated liftboats Paul and Caitlyn. According to Deepwater Wind, the two heavy lift vessels were tasked with shuttling turbine components from the Port of Providence to the Block Island site.
What's next? Deepwater Wind reported in late July that the next phase will entail commissioning of the wind turbines by GE, a process that is expected to take several months.
Image courtesy of Deepwater Wind.
Read more
OE profiled the offshore wind project in our July 2016 issue. Read more about how the project came together: here.
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