Progress Continues on Dominion Energy’s Offshore Wind Farm
Work is continuing to progress on Dominion Energy’s offshore wind farm, which is set to become the largest in the United States upon completion. Significant milestones have been achieved for the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project as it prepares for the next phase of installation.
Despite challenges faced by the offshore wind energy industry in the United States, Dominion Energy has reiterated that its project remains on schedule. The second phase of installation is slated to begin in May.
This week, Dominion Energy announced that DEME Group had successfully completed the lifting and installation of the first of three offshore substations for the project. The impressive 4,300-ton substation, which arrived in Virginia in January, marked a significant achievement in the project’s timeline. This installation onto one of the jackets signifies a major milestone for the project, which began offshore work nearly a year ago.
The 4,300-ton substation arrived in Virginia in January and this week was moved into position (Dominion Energy)
The installation vessel, Orion, will now proceed with the installation of transition pieces. With 16 transition pieces already in place as of February, Dominion Energy highlighted that the second phase of monopile foundations will commence this spring. Once completed, the wind farm will boast 176 wind turbines with a capacity for 2.6 GW of electrical energy.
The Port of Virginia, in collaboration with New York-based construction company Skanska, also announced the completion of work at the Portsmouth Marine Terminal. The terminal now features staging areas and berths specifically tailored for wind operation activities. Skanska’s $233 million redevelopment project encompassed 72 acres and 1,500 feet of wharf, including the construction of three heavy lift berths and dedicated berths for wind turbine delivery and load-out.
Dominion Energy reported progress in February on the fabrication of wind turbine towers and blades, with nacelle fabrication slated to commence soon. Additionally, major components such as monopiles, transition pieces, and undersea cables continue to be delivered to Portsmouth and staged for the project’s advancement.
The project has now reached the 50 percent completion mark. Dominion Energy reaffirmed its commitment to meeting the on-time completion target at the end of 2026.