The Revolution wind farm is a 704MW offshore wind project planned to be constructed at approximately 24km from the coast of Rhode Island, US.
DWW Rev I, a 50/50 joint venture between Ørsted and Eversource, is developing the project with an estimated investment of $1.5bn.
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Construction works are expected to commence in 2020, following the receipt of the necessary approvals. Offshore installations are expected to begin in 2022, while commissioning is scheduled for 2023.
The wind project is expected to generate enough electrical power to suffice the energy requirement of approximately 270,000 average US households. It will also offset around six million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions a year.
Project background
In 2016, Deepwater Wind commissioned the Block Island wind farm, which is the first commercial offshore project in the US. It was originally allotted the Revolution wind project in 2018.
Deepwater Wind was originally allotted the Revolution wind project 2018. The company started preliminary works on the projects in August 2018. However, in November 2018, Ørsted acquired Deepwater Wind and announced its transition from a black to a green energy company.
In February 2019, Ørsted disinvested 50% of its stake in the Revolution wind farm to Eversource. The $225m stake sale also included South Fork and two undeveloped lease areas.
Revolution wind farm details
The Revolution offshore wind farm is located in federal waters between Montauk, New York, and Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts.
The farm will feature 88 Siemens Gamesa SG 8.0-167 DD wind turbines fitted with a direct-drive gearbox.
Each SG 8.0-167 DD wind turbine has a nominal power rating of 8MW and three SGRE B81 rotor blades extending 81.4m long each.
The wind turbines belong to the IEC class S (1B) and are designed to operate even under extreme weather conditions such as tropical storms. The operating wind speeds of the turbine range from 3m/s to 25m/s.
The turbine blades are manufactured using IntegralBlade technology, which produces high quality and strength blades.
The rotor has a diameter of 167m and a swept area of 21,900m². The turbine will operate in pitch-regulated, variable speed mode to produce an electrical current of 690V at 50Hz frequency.
Power transmission from Revolution wind farm
Power generated by the Revolution wind farm will be transferred through a newly proposed 1,600MW high-voltage submarine transmission system.
The system will connect the Brayton Point substation in Somerset, Massachusetts, with two offshore substations at Rhode Island and Connecticut project site.
Off-take agreements
In December 2018, Ørsted signed a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with energy providers Eversource and United Illuminating, both based in Connecticut, for the sale of 200MW power generated by the Revolution wind farm.
In the same month, Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) permitted the project developers to negotiate another PPA with the state’s power distribution companies for an additional 100MW from the project.
In May 2019, the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission approved the 20-year PPA for the supply of 400MW of clean electricity from the Revolution project.
Contractors involved
WorleyParsons was selected to carry out the design and engineering of two offshore topside substations for the project in April 2019.
In July 2019, Siemens Gamesa was conditionally awarded the contract for the supply, delivery, and installation of the wind turbines. The contract also includes the provision of maintenance services for the Revolution wind farm.
