The Norwegian energy company Equinor has delayed the start date for electricity production from the Empire Wind offshore wind project to the first half of 2027. This delay has arisen due to problems related to the construction of the vessels required for installing turbines for this $7.5 billion project in the United States.
Details of the Delay in the Empire Wind Project
Equinor's Chief Financial Officer, Torgrim Reitan, confirmed during the company's third-quarter results presentation that the 810-megawatt Empire Wind project, located near New York, is approximately 80 percent complete. The remaining work primarily involves the installation of 54 Vestas 15-megawatt turbines, which are now expected to begin in early next year, several months later than the initial schedule.
Read more: Babcock held a Supplier Day focused on industrial collaborations
Construction and Installation Challenges
The delay is due to the construction of special tugs and barges designed to transport turbine components from the South Brooklyn marine terminal to the turbine installation vessel Maersk Viridis. The installation vessel, built in Singapore, is equipped with a special anchoring system that allows the barges to transfer turbine components directly to the vessel while it is at sea. This measure has been developed to comply with the U.S. Jones Act, which restricts domestic maritime transport to qualified U.S. vessels.
Financial Impacts and New Timeline
Edison Chouest Offshore is developing two sets of connected tugs and barges that will be built by Bollinger Shipyards. The Maersk Viridis was present near Mississippi in August for testing and preparation, but delays related to the loading vessels have disrupted the offshore installation schedule.
Equinor has stated that the new timeline will not affect the overall project investment costs, which are estimated to be around $7.5 billion, although some costs will be pushed to 2027. The company also expects to retain approximately $2.5 billion in U.S. investment tax credits, with $2 billion realized in 2027 and the remainder in 2028.
Previous Progress and Regulatory Challenges
The Empire Wind project has so far completed the installation of all 54 turbine foundations, and work on the underwater substation and underwater cables has also been completed. The project has faced frequent regulatory challenges, including two federal stop-work orders issued by the Trump administration in 2025. Equinor has obtained a permit that allows construction to continue.
The Empire Wind project, located south of Long Island, will deliver electricity to the New York City grid through Brooklyn once operational and has the capacity to power approximately 500,000 homes.
Read more: Minsto signed an agreement with Morteza Capital for tidal energy development in the Maldives · Aibel received the design and engineering contract for the Wisting FPSO project
