Equinor-BP taps GE for Empire 1 substation as New York wind play charges up

GE Renewable Energy Grid Solutions and New York-based civil engineering firm Bond Civil & Utility Construction will deliver the onshore substation for the giant Empire Wind 1 offshore wind project being developed by a Equinor-BP joint venture (JV) in the US Atlantic.

The GE-Bond consortium will provide the onshore substation and interconnection cable for the 816MW project, located 20 miles (32km) off New York State, as well as design and supply the high-voltage (HV) electrical systems for the offshore unit – the construction contract for which has yet to be awarded.

The EPC (engineering, procurement, and construction) deal signed between the consortium and the JV, called Empire Offshore Wind, points is a milestone in the development of Empire Wind, as well as for New York’s lofty goal of having 9GW of offshore wind power operational by 2035.

“This contract award marks another big step for the Empire Wind project,” said Siri Espedal Kindem, president of Equinor Wind US. “Through this commitment we will continue to advance this flagship offshore wind development, generating local jobs and shaping the growth of this industry. ”

The substation will be fully digitalised, said GE, across the unit's monitoring, controls, and software systems, and will provide critical connection and power balance between the offshore wind farm and the interconnection-point on land with New York’s electrical grid.

SBMT, which is set on a 78-acre site, has high-capacity interconnection access to the New York independent system operator’s grid to connect Empire Wind’s HV alternating current (HVAC) export line.

Bond will handle construction of the onshore substation, interconnection cable, and high voltage electric equipment.

Development of the onshore and offshore substations for the project will begin this year with construction expected in the second half of 2023.