US utility Dominion Energy has filed an application with a regional transmission organisation (RTO) to connect a planned large-scale offshore win farm to the grid.
The company says that the 2.6 GW wind farm would be the largest of its kind in the USA and is a key part of its plans to grow its renewable energy portfolio.
It would also help the state of Virginia to meet planned offshore wind farm targets.
The wind farm would consist of over 220 wind turbines installed in Dominion’s 45 600 ha lease area located 45 km off the coast of Virginia Beach. Following the filing application with PJM, Dominion will start ocean survey work in 2020 before submitting a construction and operations plan in 2022.
The project will be built in three 880 MW phases, Dominion added. Commercial operation could start in 2024.
“Offshore wind is an excellent renewable energy source and this filing with PJM shows how serious we are about bringing commercial-scale offshore wind to Virginia, giving our customers what they have asked for – more renewable energy,” said Mark D. Mitchell, vice president of generation construction. “Governor Ralph Northam has made it clear Virginia is committed to leading the way in offshore wind. We are rising to this challenge with this 2600 MW commercial offshore wind development.”
Virginia’s state government recently announced plans to target installation of 2.5 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2026.
