The turbine components for the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) pilot project have begun their journey from Denmark to North America.
The components for the two 6 MW Siemens Gamesa turbines were loaded in Esbjerg, before the vessel embarked in mid-April on the approximately two-week transatlantic journey to Halifax in Nova Scotia, Canada.
Installation of the turbines is expected to begin later this spring some 27 miles off the coast of Virginia Beach, and are expected to enter service by the end of the year.
As reported, EEW Special Pipe Constructions recently loaded the monopile foundations for the project onto the Bigroll Beaufort cargo ship in Rostock, Germany.
“This is a monumental step toward the installation of the first offshore wind turbines in federal waters, which will deliver clean, renewable energy to our customers,” said Mark D. Mitchell , Dominion Energy Vice President of Generation Construction. “The construction of these two turbines will help us reach our goal for net zero emissions and position Virginia as a leader in offshore wind.”
Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind will be the first project in U.S. Federal waters passing the BOEM approval.
The 12 MW demonstration project is being developed by Denmark’s Ørsted and the U.S. Dominion Energy.
Onshore construction began last year in June to facilitate the interconnection of the turbines at a company substation near Camp Pendleton.