A GE Haliade-X Turbine Stands in the Vineyard Wind 1 Project Area South of Martha’s Vineyard. Credit: Eric Haynes
The U.S. Coast Guard has advised mariners to exercise extreme caution following reports of a 300-foot-long piece of debris in the water near where an offshore wind turbine blade broke off at the Vineyard Wind offshore wind farm off Nantucket, Massachusetts.
Vineyard Wind, a joint venture between Avangrid and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partner, reported that the turbine blade broke off Thursday morning, following a blade failure on Saturday. Debris has since washed ashore in Nantucket, leading to the closure of some beaches.
“This morning, a significant part of the remaining GE Vernova blade detached from the turbine. Maritime crews were onsite overnight preparing to respond to this development, though current weather conditions create a difficult working environment. Despite these challenging weather conditions, a fleet of vessels remains at sea managing the situation and working to remove bulk debris. We have deployed additional crews to Nantucket Island in anticipation that more debris could wash ashore tonight and tomorrow as we continue to monitor additional coastal communities,” Vineyard Wind said in a statement Thursday.
“We are staying apprised of GE Vernova’s efforts to manage the situation, including the removal and recovery of the remaining blade attached to the turbine. With public officials, we will continue to keep the islands informed of developments as we work closely with state, federal, local, and tribal partners to respond to this evolving situation, with the safety of our personnel, the public, and the environment as our highest priority,” the statement added.
The U.S. Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) has issued a Suspension Order to Vineyard Wind, halting all power production and new construction of wind turbines due to the blade failure. Operations will remain suspended until further notice. Additionally, a Preservation Order has been issued to protect evidence related to the incident.
BSEE has been onsite with Vineyard Wind as investigations are underway and will conduct an independent assessment to ensure the safety of future offshore renewable energy operations.
The Vineyard Wind project, located 15 miles off Martha’s Vineyard, connects to the New England grid using underground cables to a substation on Cape Cod. The project delivered its first power to the grid in January, with one turbine generating approximately five megawatts of power. As of June, the project had 10 turbines in operation.
Once completed, the wind farm will feature 62 GE Haliade-X wind turbines, which are among the largest in the world. Combined, they will have capacity to generate 806 MW of power, enough electricity for over 400,000 homes and businesses in Massachusetts.
Vineyard Wind made history in May 2021 by becoming the first commercial-scale offshore wind farm in the U.S. to receive federal approval. Construction began in late 2022, achieving a significant milestone in June 2023 with the first “steel-in-the-water” and completing the nation’s first offshore substation in July 2023.
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