Vineyard Wind 1, a collaborative effort between Avangrid and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, experienced a setback in meeting its anticipated deadline to deliver its inaugural power to the Massachusetts grid by December 31.
Avangrid CEO Pedro Azagra, in a public statement on December 6, highlighted the exhaustive efforts of the project team to ensure the timely delivery of power, reiterating the commitment in a newsletter on December 27.
However, an Avangrid spokesperson recently disclosed that although the first of the project's 62 turbines generated power on Sunday evening, additional testing is necessary before any wind power can be transmitted to the grid. The spokesperson did not provide a revised timeline for the delivery of the first power.
Currently, Vineyard Wind 1's initial five GE Haliade-X turbines, already installed, are poised to generate approximately 65 megawatts (MW) of clean energy, capable of powering 30,000 homes and businesses in Massachusetts.
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Each of these turbines, boasting a 13 MW capacity, features a 220-meter rotor, 107-meter blades, and stands at a towering height of 248 meters. Once fully operational, the entire 806 MW Vineyard Wind 1, positioned 15 miles south of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket, and 35 miles from mainland Massachusetts, is expected to supply electricity to over 400,000 homes and businesses.
While the $3.5 billion project faces a delay in its initial power delivery, it aims to achieve its full power potential by mid-2024. The team is actively engaged in comprehensive testing processes, including internal assessments and coordination with ISO New England, to synchronize all components for the imminent delivery of power to the shore.
