Equinor and Ørsted Win U.S. Offshore Bids

One winner is the Norwegian energy company Equinor. The company can now implement their 816 megawatt (MW) offshore wind project 'Empire Wind'. Equinor currently expects the project to use 60-80 wind turbines with an installed capacity of more than 10 MW each. The total investment will be approximately $3 billion and the project will be able to provide clean energy to over 500,000 homes in New York starting in late 2024 if the current schedule will be met.

“We are proud to have been awarded this major wind project offshore New York. Empire Wind represents a breakthrough for Equinor’s global offshore wind ambitions and is an important step in our development as a broad energy company. We have demonstrated that we can be successful in fierce competition, with our first wind project outside of Europe. The project will be the biggest wind farm under contract in our portfolio so far. We are looking forward to developing Empire Wind together with local authorities, local communities and the U.S. industry,” Pål Eitrheim, Executive Vice President for Equinor New Energy Solutions, said.

During construction and operation, around 800 local jobs will be created, construction of the foundations included. This will happen place in the New York metropolitan area. In general, Equinor is committed to develope a supply chain for offshore wind. New York ports will also be able to count on investments to further strengthen the state's position as a U.S. hub for offshore wind energy.

Pål Eitrheim was happy when the Governor of the State of New York, Andrew M. Cuomo, announced Equinors Empire Wind as the winner of the state's offshore tender. (Image: Eskil Eriksen / Equinor ASA)

Another winner of the announcement is the Danish company Ørsted, the world's leading offshore wind developer, who has entered into a joint venture with American company Eversource. The partners want to realize the offshore project 'Sunrise Wind'.

The 880 megawatt Sunrise Wind wind farm is to be located 30 miles east of Montauk Point, Long Island, next to Ørsted's South Fork and Revolution Wind projects - neither of which has yet been realised. Through a portfolio approach for their projects in the region with a total capacity of approx. 1.7 GW to be built in 2022-2024, Ørsted and Eversource will be able to take advantage of significant procurement synergies and optimize the construction and operation of the project portfolio.

Thomas Brostrøm, CEO of Ørsted US Offshore Wind and President of Ørsted North America, said: "Sunrise Wind will contribute significantly to achieving governor Cuomo’s bold and ambitious goal for New York’s transition to renewable energy by supplying more than half a million New York homes with wind power. The offshore wind industry offers great opportunities for long-term industrial development, and Sunrise Wind will bring skilled jobs to the state during construction and throughout its operational lifetime."

Sunrise Wind will also drive the regional economy: an operations and maintenance center will be built in Port Jefferson, Long Island, and additional investments will be made in port infrastructure improvements and offshore wind training programs in New York State.

Ørsted and Eversource signed a contract with Siemens Gamesa to supply wind turbines for the entire portfolio. Subject to the final investment decision of Ørsted and Eversource, all three offshore wind farms will receive 8.0 MW Siemens Gamesa turbines.