Vineyard Wind 1 project achieves major milestone with offshore substation installation

Avangrid (NYSE: AGR), a sustainable energy frontrunner and part of the Iberdrola Group, made a significant stride in the renewable energy sector with the successful installation of an offshore substation at the Vineyard Wind 1 project. This marks the first large-scale offshore wind farm in the U.S., which is currently being constructed off the Massachusetts coast.

This offshore substation serves a crucial role in an offshore wind farm. It is specifically designed and constructed to collect and export the electricity generated by the wind turbine generators, acting as an intermediary platform between the offshore wind turbines and the onshore power grid.

Pedro Azagra, Avangrid CEO, expressed his excitement over the milestone, “Offshore wind in the U.S. is one step closer to becoming a reality.” He went on to add that it’s their commitment to pioneering projects like the Vineyard Wind 1 that drives their mission to speed up the energy transition for a cleaner, more sustainable future in Massachusetts and the U.S.

Avangrid sets record with largest offshore substation installation in the US at the Vineyard Wind 1 project. Photo courtesy of Business Wire/Avangrid

The offshore substation, composed of two main parts—the topside and the jacket—weighs over 5,000 tons. This installation becomes the first of its kind in the U.S. and the sixth and largest among the Iberdrola Group’s global fleet. Iberdrola has previously installed five other substations at its offshore wind farms in the UK, Germany, and France.

Upon completion, the Vineyard Wind 1 is expected to generate 806MW of clean, renewable energy. The first power delivery is anticipated before the end of this year. The facility will power more than 400,000 homes and businesses in Massachusetts using the electricity collected by the offshore substation from 62 wind turbine generators.