The setup of the initial monopiles and also shift items has actually started for the initial commercial-scale overseas wind ranch in the United States – the Vineyard Wind 1.
“We can finally say it – as of today, there is ‘steel in the water,’” stated Klaus S. Moeller, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER of Vineyard Wind, the business establishing the Vineyard Wind 1 overseas wind ranch, situated in a government wind power location 15 miles southern of Martha’s Vineyard and also Nantucket, and also 35 miles from landmass Massachusetts.
Vineyard Wind is a joint endeavor in between AVANGRID and also Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP).
Belgium- based DEME is setting up the monopiles and also shift items utilizing its heavy-lift vesselOrion The Orion will certainly collaborate with a group of ships throughout the summer season setting up 62 structures in the overseas wind advancement location.
“With the start of the foundation installation today on the nation’s first commercial scale offshore wind farm, the windmills that will power hundreds of thousands of homes are beginning to emerge from the water, a process that is creating jobs and bring us one step closer to delivering the Commonwealth’s clean energy future,” said Ronald J. Mariano, Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives.
“The House will continue to work towards making Massachusetts a national leader in the offshore wind industry, as we work to play our role in addressing the climate crisis.”
“CIP’s Vineyard Wind 1 project is taking a historic step today, one that will eventually usher in a new era of clean, renewable and affordable energy,” said Tim Evans, Partner and Head of North America for CIP. “We’re proud to be at the forefront for the offshore wind industry in the US and look forward to bringing our leading global experience to other projects around the country.”
“After receiving the first turbine components in New Bedford last week, Avangrid’s Vineyard Wind 1 project has achieved another historic milestone for offshore wind in the United States as we begin foundation installation,” said Avangrid CEO Pedro Azagra. “We’re proud that local union piledrivers are playing a critical role in the installation of the monopiles and transition pieces in the project area as we pioneer this new American industry.”
In addition to the existing crew, the vessel Orion is utilizing local union piledrivers. The Piledrivers received special training to begin this scope of work. As tradespeople gain additional experience in the offshore wind industry, greater employment opportunities will be created in the trades.
“The offshore wind industry has officially landed in Massachusetts waters and we’re excited for what comes next,” said Rebecca Tepper, Secretary, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. “Each of these 62 platforms forms the foundation of our clean, affordable energy future. I want to congratulate the workers who are making this possible.”
Bubble Curtain noise mitigation system ©Vineyard Wind (File image)
As component of the setup procedure, Vineyard Wind has actually likewise released the OSV Atlantic Oceanic and also the Northstar Navigator to release a key and also additional bubble drape
A bubble drape, which is consisted of big, perforated hose pipes and also specialized air compressors, is created to take in and also moisten noise throughout structure setup.The hose pipes are positioned on the seafloor around the monopile prior to being filled up by compress air.Once the hose pipes are blown up, the air gets away via the openings and also develops an obstacle of bubbles that decrease sound.
Three neighborhood angling vessels, the F/V TORBAY, F/V SOCATEAN and also the F/V KATHRYN MARIE, will certainly be onsite to work as security and also interaction sentries.
The task is likewise releasing a Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) system consisted of taken care of buoys. Up to 4 PAMs will certainly be utilized for real-time undersea acoustic tracking throughout stack driving to define the existence of aquatic creatures by identifying articulations.The buoys will certainly be released and also recovered by the F/V BETH ANNE prior to activating to the following structure area.
“We look forward cooperating with all stakeholders and US partners in the construction of this first large-scale offshore wind project in US waters, including the local union workers who will participate in the installation work under the project labor agreement,” stated Sid Florey, President DEME Offshore United States “DEME Offshore has contracted with local US vessels and crews to be deployed for mitigation of noise emissions as well as marine mammal observations.”
With its 800-megawatt capability Vineyard Wind will certainly produce power for greater than 400,000 house and also companies in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, develop 3,600 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) task years, and also is anticipated to decrease carbon discharges by greater than 1.6 million statistics lots annually, the matching of taking 325,000 automobiles off the roadway yearly.
