Dominion Energy recently announced that Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy will be the company’s preferred turbine supplier for the nation’s largest offshore wind project. Once completed, the project, located 27 miles off the coast of Virginia Beach, will produce enough zero-carbon electricity to power 650,000 Virginia homes at rated wind speed.
Siemens Gamesa will provide turbines from its Offshore Direct Drive platform, as part of the agreement. The final turbine count will be determined in a later phase of the project. The companies’ agreement also supports the submission of the project's Construction and Operations Plan (COP) to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) in late 2020. In addition, both will work together to evaluate offshore wind supply chain development opportunities in Virginia as part of an effort to reduce project costs for the benefit of customers.
"Virginia aims to become a national leader in offshore wind, and we are encouraged to see progress toward that goal," said Gov. Ralph S. Northam. "For Virginia, it's about two things: Jobs and a cleaner environment. Wind energy is one of our top economic priorities and a critical component of Virginia's clean energy strategy, and this is an important step forward."
The project will span across 112,800 acres, which Dominion Energy secured through a lease from BOEM in 2013. Ocean survey work required by BOEM will begin this year and will be incorporated into the COP.
Dominion Energy began construction in June on a pilot offshore wind power project. The two 6-megawatt (MW) turbines from Siemens Gamesa will be installed this spring and are scheduled to come online later in 2020. Dominion Energy will use learnings from this project as it goes through a similar process for the commercial offshore wind development.
"Virginia state agencies have been tasked to develop a plan to produce 30 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030. Offshore wind is a fast-growing and important contributor to meet this goal," said Steve Dayney, head of Offshore North America at Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy. "We have always believed that the demonstration project is a gateway to something bigger and now Virginia is poised to benefit from wide-ranging economic benefits this project will bring."
To learn more about this project, read the original release.