Prysmian Group has begun installing the first submarine cable for the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) project using its newly launched cable-laying vessel Monna Lisa, the company confirmed.
The 2.6-gigawatt (GW) offshore wind farm, being developed by Dominion Energy, is the largest of its kind currently under construction in the United States. Located 27 miles off the coast of Virginia Beach, the project is expected to provide renewable electricity to up to 660,000 homes once fully operational in 2026.
The 171-metre-long Monna Lisa, which joined Prysmian’s fleet earlier this year, is designed to install power cables in water depths of up to 3,000 metres. Its deployment at CVOW marks the vessel’s first major installation assignment.
“This marks a concrete step forward in building a more sustainable future, as Prysmian continues to support the global energy transition with cutting-edge high-voltage submarine cable solutions,” the company said in a statement.
The CVOW project forms part of the U.S. strategy to expand offshore wind capacity and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. Cable installation is a key milestone in project development, enabling the connection of offshore wind turbines to the onshore power grid.
