Empire Offshore Wind, a joint venture between Equinor and bp, has selected Vestas as the preferred supplier of wind turbines for Empire Wind I and Empire Wind II, one of the largest offshore wind projects in the United States.

The preferred supplier agreement, one of the largest of its kind to be announced in the United States, is an important step towards achieving its goal of providing large-scale offshore wind power to New State. York, according to an official statement.

The deal would see Vestas deliver 138 V236-15MW wind turbine generators with a total production capacity of around 2 GW – for the two Empire Wind developments. Each rotation of a 15 MW turbine will be able to power a New York home for approximately 1.5 days.

“We are delighted to have selected our preferred supplier for what will be the biggest contract in the Empire Wind project. The turbines have the highest rated capacity available on the market today, which perfectly matches the high ambitions we have in this project. We’ve chosen the technology that will give Empire Wind the best value for money from the world’s largest wind turbine manufacturer. This is cutting edge technology that pushes the boundaries of wind power generation, ”said Arne Sigve Nylund, Executive Vice President for Projects, Drilling and Supply at Equinor.

“The selection of a preferred wind turbine supplier for the Empire Wind I and Empire Wind II offshore wind projects in New York State clearly indicates that advancing the national target of 9 gigawatts of offshore wind in New York ‘New York State by 2035 is on track to provide energy for New Yorkers, ”said Doreen M. Harris, President and CEO of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) .

“Through the use of New York’s various ports, these types of partnerships will harness local business and manufacturing to make New York City the hub of the nation’s offshore wind industry.”

“Through this Preferred Supplier Agreement, we are leading the development of a rapidly growing offshore wind industry in the United States. This is just a starting point as we continue to advance projects and tap into the local supply chain. Empire Wind is a flagship offshore wind development, shaping the future of this industry, ”said Siri Espedal Kindem, President of Equinor Wind US.

“Today’s announcement takes us one step further, as we work with our partner bp, New York State and NYSERDA, and all stakeholders to develop Empire Wind, which will play an important role in renewable electricity production to meet critical climate ambitions for the state, nation and Equinor’s goal of reaching net zero by 2050. ”

Felipe Arbelaez, bp senior vice president for zero carbon energy, added: “Large renewable energy developments like Empire Offshore Wind not only provide clean energy to power homes, but also build important supply chains and create jobs. Empire I and Empire II can transform the way New York State gets its energy. bp and Equinor together have the technical and commercial capabilities to move these important projects forward – and to move fast. We continue to seek opportunities to grow our business while pursuing our net zero ambition and supporting cities like New York on their net zero journey. “

Empire Wind continues to support the broader development of the offshore wind supply chain with the planned tower manufacturing plant in upstate New York, the statement said.

The tower sections for Empire Wind will be manufactured at the new Marmen and Welcon factory in Port d’Albany and will be supplied by Vestas. The tower manufacturing plant is expected to be operational by the end of 2023, creating up to 350 direct local jobs. The plan is for the towers to be transported along the Hudson River to the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal (SBMT). At SBMT, preparation of turbine components is expected to take place prior to offshore transport to Empire Wind’s rental area for installation, contributing to several hundred renewable energy jobs in New York City.

The award of the turbine supply, maintenance and warranty contract is conditional on the final agreement on the terms of the contract and the signing of the Empire Wind II purchase and sale agreement between Empire Offshore Wind LLC and NYSERDA.