Overview

The Sunrise Offshore Wind Farm is a 924-megawatt greenfield project being developed by Ørsted and Eversource. Located at least 30 miles east of Montauk Point, New York, the wind farm will provide clean energy to power nearly 600,000 homes and contribute to New York's goal of a carbon-free energy grid by 2040. Expected to be commissioned in 2026, the project will utilize Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy's SG 8.0-167 DD turbines.

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Sunrise Offshore Wind Location

Source: NYSERDA

The Sunrise Wind Farm will be situated offshore New York, roughly 30 miles east of Montauk Point State Park on Long Island. To be more precise, the lease area (OCS-A 0487) resides in federal waters, approximately 30.4 kilometers south of Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, and 48.1 kilometers east of Montauk, New York.

Read: Top Five Upcoming Offshore Wind Farm Power Projects in the United States (US)

Project Background

The Sunrise Wind Farm is part of a larger initiative alongside projects like Empire Wind and South Fork Wind to achieve New York's clean energy targets. In October 2019, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) awarded contracts for the development of Sunrise Wind. This decision reflected the United state's goals for offshore wind energy, as outlined in its 2015 Energy Plan.

The project area, identified by lease OCS-A 0487, was initially held by Deepwater Wind New England. In August 2020, the lease was transferred to Sunrise Wind. Subsequently, in September 2020, Sunrise Wind submitted a Construction and Operations Plan (COP) to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) for approval to construct the wind farm.

Acknowledging the potential environmental implications, BOEM published a Notice of Intent (NOI) in August 2021 to prepare a final Environmental Impact Statement for the project. The draft Environmental Impact Statement was made available for public review in December 2022.

To secure further progress, Sunrise Wind obtained a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need (CECPN) from the New York State Public Service Commission (NYSPSC) in November 2022. This permit signifies the project's compliance with environmental regulations and its demonstration of public necessity.

In November 2022 when the NYSPSC approved the project's underground transmission route. This 124-mile submarine export cable will transmit the electricity generated by the wind farm to the existing electrical grid on Long Island.  Also, this project will stimulate the domestic supply chain for offshore wind components, promoting economic growth in manufacturing and logistics.

Project Timeline

Technical Specifications

The Sunrise Wind Farm will feature up to 122 offshore wind turbines. These turbines will be supported by foundations and interconnected via a network of inter-array cables.  An offshore converter station (OCS-DC) will be responsible for converting the generated alternating current (AC) electricity into direct current (DC) for efficient transmission.

Once the power reaches Long Island, New York, another conversion will take place. An onshore converter station (OnCS-DC) will transform the DC electricity back into AC, making it compatible with the existing power grid.

The project will have a dedicated offshore export cable to deliver the generated electricity from the wind farm to the designated landfall point. This landfall is situated within the Town of Brookhaven on Long Island.  From there, an onshore interconnection cable will take over, carrying the electricity onwards to the Long Island Power Authority's (LIPA) Holbrook Substation, where it will be integrated into the local grid.

Sunrise Wind has opted for Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy's SG 8.0-167 DD model. Each turbine has a rated offshore wind capacity of 8 megawatts (MW) and features a massive rotor with a diameter of 167 meters. These rotors will be equipped with 81.4-meter-long SGRE B81 blades, creating a swept area of 21,900 square meters per turbine.

Contractors Involved

Project cost

The total estimated project cost for Sunrise Wind Farm is USD 1.5 billion. Also, the windfarm is projected to generate USD 700 million in investment for Suffolk County.

Sunrise Wind's power purchase agreement secures a rate of USD 150.15 per megawatt hour for the generated electricity. This price point is significantly higher than the initial price awarded in 2019 (USD 110.37MW/h).

The project will invest USD 80 million in a facility dedicated to manufacturing turbine foundation components. Also, the offshore wind project will contribute USD 335 million towards transmission and grid infrastructure upgrades, ensuring efficient integration of the wind farm's energy into the existing power grid.

Project Scope

The offshore wind project is committed to creating job opportunities and fostering long-term economic growth within New York. An estimated 800 direct jobs will be created during construction, alongside thousands of indirect and induced jobs. The project is investing heavily in workforce development initiatives, including a dedicated National Workforce Training Center and programs focused on Upstate New York. 

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Additionally, a new Operations & Maintenance Hub in Port Jefferson will create permanent jobs and establish Long Island as a hub for the state's offshore wind industry. This commitment to job creation and economic development is further emphasized by the project's investment in Upstate New York facilities for manufacturing key wind turbine components, and the projected direct investment of at least USD 408 million in New York by 2029.

Current Status & Future Outlook

On March 26th, 2024, Sunrise Wind project received its Record of Decision (RoD) from the BOEM. Additionally, Ørsted and Eversource jointly announced their final investment decision on Sunrise Wind on the same day. The onshore construction of the project is still in progress while the offshore constructions will commence later this year. The project is expected to be operational in 2026 and create significant job opportunities within the offshore wind industry, contributing to its growth and workforce development.

Accoriding to latest update in September 2024, more than half of the foundation components for the Sunrise Wind project have been built at the Port of Coeymans Assembly Hub. Developer Ørsted plans offshore construction to begin in 2025.

Riggs Distler & Company was selected as the general contractor for assembling prefabricated components.The transportation of the components will take place via the Hudson River to the project site which is 30 miles east of Montauk. These components, weighing up to 120 tons and reaching 40 feet in height, include platforms, railings, and other critical parts for the turbine foundations.

Summary

The Sunrise Offshore Wind Farm, a partnership between Ørsted and Eversource Energy, is a USD 1.5 billion project set to generate 924 MW of clean energy off the coast of New York by 2026. With SG 8.0-167 DD turbines, it aims to power 600,000 homes benefitting millions of New Yorkers, and aligning with New York's carbon-free energy goals. The windfarm got approvals from NYSPSC and BOEM, the project promises significant economic impact, with USD 700 million for Suffolk County and investments in grid infrastructure. Construction is underway, marking a significant step towards renewable energy advancement in the United States.

FAQs

Who owns Sunrise wind?

Ørsted ownes 100% shares in Sunrise wind farm by acquiring Eversource's share for USD 78 million (approximately EUR 72 million).

How many MW is sunrise wind?

Sunrise wind farm has a capacity of 924 MW.

Who is the supplier of sunrise wind turbines?

Turbines for the Sunrise Wind is supplied by Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy (SGRE).

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