The new turbine — the first of 62 in the Vineyard Wind project, located 15 miles south of Martha’s Vineyard — stands up to 837 feet above the water’s surface.
Vineyard Wind celebrated a milestone this week with the completion of its first offshore wind turbine generator, parent company Avangrid and investor Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners announced Wednesday.
The final blade is installed on the turbine.
The final blade is installed on the turbine.
The new turbine — the first of 62 in the Vineyard Wind project, located 15 miles south of Martha’s Vineyard —stands up 837 feet above the water’s surface when one of its three blades is topmost.
The generator, connected to an offshore substation completed this summer, is rated to produce up to 13 megawatts of electrical energy that can power more than 6,000 properties, according to the announcement.
“This is a monumental achievement and a proud day for offshore wind in the United States that proves this industry is real and demonstrates Avangrid’s steadfast commitment to helping the Northeast region meet its clean energy and climate goals,” Avangrid CEO Pedro Azagra said in a statement. “While this is a landmark for this first-in-the-nation project and the industry, we remain focused on the important work ahead to continue the successful installation campaign of these massive turbines and deliver the first power to Massachusetts homes and businesses this year.”
When all 62 turbines are in place, Vineyard Wind expects to be able to generate more than 800 megawatts, enough to power more than 400,000 homes and businesses in Massachusetts, according to the project website.
The new turbine and substation are controlled from shore through fiber-optic undersea cables, with a microwave radio link to the Carroll’s Way signal tower in Vineyard Haven as a back-up in case the cabling fails, Vineyard Wind officials said.
Comments
Congrats to the Vineyard Wind
Mark VHCongrats to the Vineyard Wind team on reaching this important first milestone!
What an eyesore in the
Susan Vineyard HavenWhat an eyesore in the perfectly beautiful ocean that God created.
Epic achievement.
Frank Brunelle Vineyard HavenEpic achievement. Congratulations.
This is plainly visible with
Mark Acker VHThis is plainly visible with normal eye vision from our south shore. At least please no flashing or high intensity flood night lights.
The Vineyard and Nantucket
Rob Hewett Lexington, MAThe Vineyard and Nantucket now have some newly unifying geography - an equally clear view of these giant towers from our respective beaches, the impact to the latter's Atlantic mystique being arguably greater. Setting aside the practical utility of these structures, I'll offer that the sense of terminal wildness at Wasque, with its swirling currents, shoaling and breakers, the glimpse of our sister island and the windy waters beyond, now finds itself juxtaposed with perceptions of a busier horizon.
Is someone tracking the
JusTom WTIs someone tracking the carbon footprint of the construction in an effort to calculate the environmental return on investment for this project? That would include the fuel burn of offshore construction, cable laying, Vineyard Haven construction and New Bedford shipping and construction. I will gladly do it if the fuel usage data is available. Stay tuned.
For those with any knowledge
Albert GosnoldFor those with any knowledge of marine operations the data is readably available, have at it.
It is my guess that the daily fuel peak consumption for the construction will be below the average of fuel consumed daily on the Island.
Post construction it will be minuscule.
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