Substation for first US commercial-scale offshore wind power

Bladt Industries’ offshore substation and jacket foundation for Vineyard Wind 1, the first commercial offshore wind farm in the United States, has left Denmark for its destination 35 miles from mainland Massachusetts. The project includes design, procurement, and construction of a 3,200-tonne offshore substation and a 2,000-tonne four-pile jacket foundation that will form the permanent seabed anchorage. The Vineyard Wind 1 offshore wind farm, which will consist of 62 wind turbines, is being built by offshore wind development company Vineyard Wind LLC, 50% owned by funds from Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) and 50% owned by Avangrid Renewables, LLC. First power to the grid is expected in 2023.

Bladt Industries Chief Project Officer Klaus Munck Rasmussen expressed pride at the company’s involvement and added that the project marks another chapter in the history of the country’s offshore wind projects. The jacket foundation’s steel fabrication was handled by Bladt, while design, engineering, and the installation of the electrical system were carried out by Semco Maritime and ISC. Upon arrival at the installation site, Vineyard Wind LLC will perform the substation installation; Semco Maritime and Bladt Industries will then handle offshore commissioning and begin work in the summer.

Economic impacts from Vineyard Wind 1 are expected to boost the offshore wind industry in Massachusetts and create local jobs, said Semco Maritime CEO Steen Brødbæk. The installation marks a milestone for the project team from Bladt Industries, Semco Maritime, and ISC Consulting Engineers. Bladt and Semco Maritime combined have won seven of the 11 offshore substations awarded in US waters to date. Vineyard Wind 1 attracted public attention from its early stages due to the environmental prospects of reducing carbon emissions and powering over 400,000 homes in Massachusetts.

Vineyard Wind 1 is being executed as an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contract with ISC as a subcontractor. The offshore wind farm will generate 800 MW of electricity annually and reduce carbon emissions by over 1.6 million tonnes per year. CEO of Vineyard wind, Klaus S. Moeller, expressed excitement at the project’s progress and looked forward to welcoming the barge to Massachusetts.


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