Block Island Wind Farm

Block Island Wind Farm is America’s first commercial offshore wind farm. Initially, the wind farm is part of a 385 MW farm plan that will power Rhode Island and electrify Massachusetts.

As of 2022, it is one of the two operational offshore wind farms in the USA. It’s commissioning in 2016 was a significant milestone for the green energy transition. Although carrying just 30 MW of installed capacity, the turbines power 17,000 households with wind energy. The project connects Block Island to the national grid.

How many homes can be powered by the Block Island Wind Farm?

With a total capacity of 30 megawatts, the wind farm can power Block Island’s 17,000 homes entirely on wind.

Who owns Block Island Wind Farm?

The wind farm is owned and developed by Deepwater Wind, which Ørsted now owns as of 2018. Ørsted bought 100% equity from Deepwater Wind in exchange for $510 Million.

Deepwater Wind and Ørsted 

After acquiring Deepwater, Ørsted continued to add 700 more turbines to its wind turbine arsenal. In 2022, Ørsted achieved a milestone in energy production as it celebrated 1,000 onshore turbines in January to go along with its 28 onshore wind farms worldwide. The Danish company remains a leader in offshore wind globally.

Block Island Power Company, meanwhile, owns the site where the substation connects the turbines to the existing power generation facility.

Can you see Block Island wind farm from shore?

Yes! As the wind farm is only 6.1 kilometers from shore, the turbines are visible from the coastline of Block Island.

Where is Block Island Wind Farm?

Block Island Wind Farm is in the state of Rhode Island, the smallest state by size in the US but also the second densest state.

The wind farm is in the Atlantic Ocean but only 6.1 kilometers from the shore of Block Island, Rhode Island.

What is the potential for offshore wind farms in America?

The potential for offshore wind in the USA is tremendous because even just a few kilometers off its coasts, regular, strong gusts of wind are blowing.

The wind is already one of the top renewable energy sources in the United States, generating 9% of all electricity in the United States in 2021. The map from NREL illustrates how much capacity can be harnessed from the country’s coasts.

According to a 2016 US Department of Energy study, offshore wind power can be harnessed with two terawatts of installed capacity and produce up to 7,200 terawatt-hours per year. This amount of power generation is twice the electric generation of the United States in 2015.

How many wind turbines does Block Island have?

The wind farm has five turbines, each one with a capacity of 6 megawatts. Each is a 6MW GE Halaide turbine.  

With the five turbines, the farm replaced the diesel generators that emit 40,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually.

When is the first power of Block Island Wind Farm?

The wind farm started to deliver offshore wind energy to the island in December 2016.