Revolution Wind

Revolution Wind Wind Farm Profile

Location

The Revolution Wind farm is situated in federal waters approximately 24 kilometers (15 miles) south of the Rhode Island coast, 32 kilometers (20 miles) southeast of the Connecticut coast, and 19 kilometers (12 miles) southwest of Martha’s Vineyard. It is located near the areas of Montauk, New York, and Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts.

Project Details

• Capacity: The Revolution Wind farm has a total capacity of 704 megawatts (MW), with 400 MW allocated to Rhode Island and 304 MW to Connecticut.
• Turbines: The project will feature 88 Siemens Gamesa SG 8.0-167 DD wind turbines. Each turbine has a nominal power rating of 8 MW, a rotor diameter of 167 meters, and three blades each extending 81.4 meters. These turbines are designed to operate in extreme weather conditions, including tropical storms, with cut-in and cut-out wind speeds of 3 m/s and 25 m/s, respectively.

Development and Ownership

• Developers: The project is being developed by a partnership between Ørsted and Global Infrastructure Partners’ Skyborn Renewables. Initially, it was a 50/50 joint venture between Ørsted and Eversource, but in February 2024, Eversource announced its plans to divest its 50% stake to Global Infrastructure Partners.
• History: Deepwater Wind was originally allotted the federal lease for the Revolution offshore wind development zone in 2018. Ørsted acquired Deepwater Wind in November 2018 and later sold a 50% stake in the project to Eversource in February 2019.

Construction and Timeline

• Construction Start: Local construction work on the onshore infrastructure began in 2023, and offshore construction commenced in 2024. The first wind turbine was installed in May 2024.
• Expected Completion: The project is expected to be fully operational by 2025.

Power Transmission and Distribution

• Transmission System: The power generated will be transferred through a newly proposed 1.6 GW high-voltage submarine transmission system. This system will connect the Brayton Point substation in Somerset, Massachusetts, with two offshore substations at the Rhode Island and Connecticut project sites.
• Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs): Long-term PPAs have been approved for the sale of power. In December 2018, Ørsted signed a 20-year PPA with energy providers Eversource and United Illuminating for 200 MW of power. Additional PPAs include 100 MW for Connecticut and 400 MW for Rhode Island, approved by the respective state public utilities commissions.

Environmental and Ecological Impact

• Surveys and Assessments: Extensive environmental surveys have been conducted to investigate all ecological aspects of the wind farm. Measures are being taken to minimize the ecological impact, and the results of these studies are included in permit applications.
• Protected Species: Biological assessments and protected species observer reports have been conducted to ensure minimal impact on marine life.

Economic and Job Impact

• Job Creation: The project is expected to create approximately 1,200 direct construction jobs across Rhode Island and Connecticut. Additionally, it will generate thousands of indirect and induced jobs, including long-term operation and maintenance positions.
• Local Infrastructure: The project involves significant investments in local infrastructure, including port improvements at ProvPort, Quonset, and the redevelopment of State Pier into a regional center for the offshore wind industry.
• Workforce Development: Partnerships with local organizations and higher education institutions are in place to provide training programs and ensure a growing pipeline of skilled local workers.

Clean Energy Goals and Benefits

• Clean Energy Contribution: The project will help both Rhode Island and Connecticut meet their ambitious clean energy goals. Rhode Island aims for 100% renewables by 2033, and Connecticut targets 100% zero-carbon electricity by 2040.
• Emissions Reduction: The wind farm will generate enough clean energy to power over 350,000 homes across both states and offset more than six million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annually, equivalent to taking over 150,000 cars off the road.

Additional Infrastructure

• Service Operations Vessel: The project includes the use of the Eco Edison, an American-built, owned, and crewed offshore wind service operations vessel. This vessel will serve as a floating base for turbine technicians and will be based out of ProvPort during the construction phase.

The Revolution Wind project is a significant step towards expanding offshore wind energy in the United States, marking the first multi-state offshore wind farm and contributing substantially to the clean energy goals of Rhode Island and Connecticut.