Sunrise Wind Will be First Offshore Wind Project in United States to Use HVDC Transmission Technology
Ørsted and Eversource Select Siemens Energy to Supply Transmission System for 924-Megawatt Offshore Wind Farm Powering New York State.
NEW YORK – Ørsted and Eversource announced today that they will be the first offshore wind companies to utilize high-voltage direct current (HVDC) technology as part of a U.S. offshore wind farm, deploying the efficient transmission system for New York’s Sunrise Wind.
HVDC technology offers advantages over AC technology in electricity transmission over long distances. HVDC reduces the number of cables, improves transmission efficiency (e.g., reduces energy lost during transmission) and eliminates the need for additional electrical equipment between offshore and onshore converter terminals. While HVDC technology is currently used in the U.S., it has not been introduced to offshore wind energy until now.
Sunrise Wind will have an approximately 100-mile submarine transmission cable from energy production offshore to grid connection in Holbrook, New York. Due to its utility-scale 924-megawatt capacity and distance to the grid, Sunrise Wind is well-suited to deploy this technology and take advantage of its benefits, ensuring as much clean energy as possible reaches New York residents.
“As the global leader in offshore wind energy, we’re helping to advance the U.S. industry to help achieve the Biden Administration’s goal of 30 gigawatts by 2030,” said David Hardy, CEO of Ørsted Offshore North America. “This includes building the supply chain and manufacturing base, as well as bringing to the United States leading technology that will further improve efficient transmission and build workforce capabilities for this growing American industry.”
Ørsted and Eversource selected Siemens Energy, in consortium with Aker Solutions, to supply the Sunrise Wind HVDC system.
The HVDC work is part of Ørsted and Eversource’s overall $400 million investment in New York State to build Sunrise Wind. Portions of the HVDC work, including the onshore converter stations, will be performed by local companies. This will help create jobs and provide additional offshore wind experience to the regions’ workforce that can support a growing industry for decades. In total, Sunrise Wind will provide up to 800 direct jobs during construction, as well as up to 100 permanent full-time jobs servicing the wind farm during operations. In addition, Sunrise Wind is estimated to create up to 2,000 indirect jobs.
“Together, we’re putting the most advanced transmission technology available to work for our Sunrise Wind project,” said Joe Nolan, President and Chief Executive Officer of Eversource Energy. “The use of this technology allows us to efficiently deliver clean, offshore wind energy to the communities we’ll serve. It also signals that the country is ready to integrate large offshore wind farms like Sunrise Wind into the grid system.”
Sunrise Wind, one of the largest U.S. offshore wind farms, is located more than 30 miles east of Montauk Point and will generate enough clean energy to power nearly 600,000 New York homes. It is expected to be operational in 2025.
About Ørsted Offshore North America
The Ørsted vision is a world that runs entirely on green energy. Ørsted ranks as the world’s most sustainable energy company in Corporate Knights’ 2021 Global 100 index of the most sustainable corporations and is recognized on the CDP Climate Change A List as a global leader on climate action.
In the United States, Ørsted operates the Block Island Wind Farm, America’s first offshore wind farm, and constructed the two-turbine Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind pilot project – the first turbines to be installed in federal waters. Ørsted has secured over 4,000 megawatts of additional capacity through six projects in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. Ørsted Offshore’s North American business is jointly headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts and Providence, Rhode Island and employs more than 150 people. To learn more visit us.orsted.com or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter (@OrstedUS).
About Eversource
Eversource (NYSE: ES) transmits and delivers electricity and natural gas and supplies water to approximately 4.3 million customers in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Celebrated as a national leader for its corporate citizenship, Eversource is the #1 energy company in Newsweek’s list of America’s Most Responsible Companies for 2021 and recognized as one of America’s Most JUST Companies. The #1 energy efficiency provider in the nation, Eversource harnesses the commitment of approximately 9,300 employees across three states to build a single, united company around the mission of safely delivering reliable energy and water with superior customer service. The company is empowering a clean energy future in the Northeast, with nationally recognized energy efficiency solutions and successful programs to integrate new clean energy resources like solar, offshore wind, electric vehicles and battery storage, into the electric system. For more information, please visit eversource.com, and follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. For more information on our water services, visit aquarionwater.com.
Media Contact
For Sunrise Wind:
Meaghan Wims
401-261-1641
mwims@duffyshanley.com