Avangrid and CIP's 804 MW Vineyard Wind project, in partnership with GE Vernova, has initiated a three-step inspection process following a blade failure in July at the offshore wind array near Massachusetts. The inspection plan is designed to ensure the safety and integrity of the remaining turbine blades before resuming installation.
The first step involves processing over 8,300 ultrasound testing records to verify that bond requirements are met. Any identified issues will undergo further inspection, with corrective measures applied as needed. The second step employs advanced remote-controlled “crawler” drones equipped with cameras to inspect the blades for anomalies, providing technicians with detailed photo and video feeds for analysis. Additionally, GE Vernova is deploying a new algorithm that uses sensors within the blades to continuously monitor their health.
Vineyard Wind CEO Klaus S. Møller expressed confidence in the plan, stating, “We believe we have the right plan in place to recover the rest of the blade, secure any debris offshore and onshore, and safely and responsibly resume the installation program so we can put this project back on track to deliver needed clean power to the New England region.”
The plan has been developed in compliance with the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement's superseding order and the U.S. Coast Guard. Alongside the inspection, Vineyard Wind is working with contractor Resolve Marine to remove the damaged blade. This four-step process includes rotating the blade to reduce stress, removing the blade root from the hub, clearing fallen debris from the platform, and addressing any debris on the seabed.
The ultrasound review and crawler inspections have already commenced. Vineyard Wind is collaborating with Federal, Tribal, state, and local stakeholders to resume construction.
