Offshore Wind Farm Launches for Equinor's Empire Wind Initiative, According to Our Site Report
The ECO Liberty, a state-of-the-art Service Operations Vessel (SOV), is set to play a crucial role in Equinor's Empire Wind 1 offshore wind farm project. This 262-foot (80 metres) hybrid-powered SOV, built using American steel and components from Gulf Coast companies, will be stationed offshore and will initially support marine construction, accommodating up to 60 workers [1].
The ECO Liberty will be deployed on Equinor's Empire Wind 1 offshore wind farm, located 25-48 kilometres (15-30 miles) southeast of Long Island. This wind farm will be a significant milestone as it will be the first to connect to New York City's grid [2].
The project consists of 54 Vestas 15 MW wind turbines, and the planned activities for Empire Wind 1 are scheduled to take place during the current offshore installation window. Equinor aims to reach the commercial operational date in 2027 [3].
The ECO Liberty was constructed at LaShip in Houma, Louisiana, and more than 500 Louisiana workers contributed to its construction. Edison Chouest Offshore signed a contract to support the construction of Equinor's Empire Wind project in 2022 [4].
The homeport of the ECO Liberty will be at South Brooklyn Marine Terminal, a redeveloped offshore wind staging facility in New York. This terminal will also serve as the operations and maintenance (O&M) base for Empire Wind [5].
The US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has lifted the stop-work order for Equinor's Empire Wind 1 offshore wind farm, paving the way for the ECO Liberty to commence its operations [6]. The ECO Liberty is scheduled to depart for New York and will be homeported at South Brooklyn Marine Terminal, ready to support the development and ongoing operation of Empire Wind 1.
References: [1] South Brooklyn Marine Terminal, https://www.brooklynterminal.nyc/ [2] Empire Wind 1, https://www.equinor.com/en/what-we-do/business-areas/new-energy/offshore-wind/empire-wind/ [3] Offshore Wind Energy, https://www.boem.gov/offshore-wind/ [4] Edison Chouest Offshore, https://www.edisonchouest.com/ [5] South Brooklyn Marine Terminal, https://www.brooklynterminal.nyc/ [6] US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, https://www.boem.gov/
- The ECO Liberty, stationed at South Brooklyn Marine Terminal, is set to provide support in the energy sector, specifically in the offshore wind industry, as it aids in the development and ongoing operation of Equinor's Empire Wind 1 project, which involves the deployment of 54 Vestas 15 MW wind turbines and is expected to connect to New York City's grid.
- The finance sector plays a crucial role in the deployment of the ECO Liberty, as it was constructed using American steel and components from Gulf Coast companies, and Edison Chouest Offshore signed a contract to support the construction of Equinor's Empire Wind project in 2022, contributing to the local economy by employing over 500 Louisiana workers.
