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Empire Wind is a 2.1 GW, two-phase offshore wind project which will be one of the largest offshore wind projects in the United States.
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) granted the project developers Offshore Renewable Energy Credits (OREC) for phases 1 and 2.
The wind farm is a significant step in the renewable electricity initiative of the state of New York.
The investments from Equinor and BP will help propel New York to achieving net zero by 2050. The state also seeks to electrify the grid with 100% green energy in 2040.
Where is the Empire Wind project?
Empire Wind project is in the Atlantic Sea off the United States’ east coast, 14 miles south of Long Island and 19.5 miles East of Long Branch, New Jersey.
Some tourist attractions near offshore wind farms are Hartshorne Woods Park, Ocean Grove Park, and Jacob Riis State Park.
Who owns the Empire Wind project?
The project is a joint venture between two of the top 10 oil companies in the world by market cap: Equinor and BP.
Equinor has a headstart as one of Europe’s largest offshore wind developers. The company also developed the world’s first floating offshore wind farm in Scotland – Hywind Scotland.
Equinor obtained the commercial lease in 2017, then sold 50% to BP in 2020, similar to their 50:50 share in Beacon Wind Farm.
The joint venture is named Empire Offshore Wind LLC. Equinor remains the offshore wind farm operator through the entire project lifecycle.
BP and Equinor’s joint renewables portfolio includes Empire Wind and Beacon Wind, which totals 3.3 GW of offshore wind portfolio in the US.
How many phases does Empire Wind have?
Empire Wind has two phases, the second being larger than the first. The total capacity of the two Empire Wind developments is 2.1 GW.
How much wind power will Empire Wind deliver?
| Empire Wind Phase | Capacity Factor |
|---|---|
| Empire Wind 1 | 816 MW |
| Empire Wind 2 | 1,260 MW |
Empire Wind 1 is 816 MW, and Empire Wind 2 is 1.2 GW. The combined capacity of the project is almost 2.1 GW, which is enough to power one million New York households!
What are the economic benefits of the Empire Wind project?
BP is already America’s largest energy investor, having invested in the country over 150 years ago. This time, with Equinor, the focus will also build on the offshore wind supply chain.
The project includes converting the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal into a staging site and assembly facility for offshore wind. The terminal will also serve as the offshore wind farm’s operations and maintenance base.
Port of Albany will also benefit from a strategic investment into the domestic supply chain to source offshore wind towers. The port will be the country’s first offshore wind tower and transition piece manufacturing facility.
Both investments are critical to the nation’s offshore wind industry.
How large is the Empire Wind lease area?
The entire Empire Wind lease area is 79,350 acres or 321 square kilometers.
When is the first power of Empire Wind?
Empire Wind 1 will be commissioned in 2026. Empire Wind 2 is still in the planning stage and will commence power in 2027.
Who builds the Empire Wind turbines?
| Empire Wind Phase | Online Date | Turbines | Turbine Model | Phase Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Empire Wind 1 | 2026 | 54 | Vestas 15 MW | 810 MW |
| Empire Wind 2 | 2027 | 84 | Vestas 15 MW | 1,260 MW |
| Total | 138 | 2,070 MW |
Vestas is the preferred turbine supplier for Empire Wind 1 and Empire Wind 2.
The turbines are Vestas 236 with a 15 MW capacity and 235 meters of rotor diameter. As the most powerful turbine in the industry as of 2022, it can produce 80-gigawatt hours annually. A single rotation of the turbine can power a household for 1.5 days!
The cutting edge in turbine technology and construction of the V236 began only in 2021. Vestas is the world’s largest turbine manufacturer, with more than 100 GW of installed offshore and onshore wind capacity.
Vestas was also awarded by Corporate Knights as The Most Sustainable Company in the world in 2022.