Offshore Wind Projects
To help meet New York’s nation-leading renewable energy targets, NYSERDA issues competitive solicitations for offshore wind energy and contracts with offshore wind developers to purchase offshore renewable energy certificates (ORECs). Aligning with New York’s 10-Point Action Plan, NYSERDA continues to demonstrate leadership in advancing our nation’s transition to clean energy and delivering benefits to the State.
Map of New York's offshore wind projects.
In the first offshore wind solicitation, ORECRFP18-1, NYSERDA executed contracts with Equinor Wind US LLC for the 816 MW Empire Wind Project and Sunrise Wind LLC (a joint venture of Ørsted A/S and Eversource Energy) for the 924 MW Sunrise Wind Project to deliver clean, affordable, renewable energy to New Yorkers. To learn more, see our 2018 Solicitation page.
In the second solicitation, ORECRFP20-1, NYSERDA executed contracts with Equinor Wind US LLC for the 1,260 MW Empire Wind 2 Project and the 1,230 MW Beacon Wind Project to deliver clean, affordable, renewable energy to New Yorkers. To learn more, see our 2020 Solicitation page.
In late October 2023, NYSERDA competitively selected three offshore wind projects as a result of the third offshore wind solicitation: Attentive Energy One developed by TotalEnergies, Rise Light & Power, and Corio Generation (1,404 MW), Community Offshore Wind developed by RWE Offshore Renewables and National Grid Ventures (1,314 MW), and Excelsior Wind developed by Vineyard Offshore (1,314 MW). This procurement also included a $300 million award to support blade and nacelle manufacturing facilities in the Capital Region. In April 2024, NYSERDA announced that the solicitation concluded and no final awards were made. To learn more, see our 2022 Solicitation page.
On February 29, 2024, Governor Hochul announced that NYSERDA had competitively selected two offshore wind projects – Empire Wind 1, developed by Equinor (planned 810 MW), and Sunrise Wind, developed by Ørsted and Eversource (planned 924 MW) – as a result of its fourth offshore wind solicitation. First awarded by NYSERDA in 2019, these projects will be held to new contract provision that will bring additional benefits to the State. To learn more, see our 2023 Solicitation page.
For details about NYSERDA’s solicitation awards, download the Solicitation Award factsheets found on the right side (for desktop users) or bottom (for mobile users) of this webpage.
NYSERDA Contracted Projects
NYSERDA is currently negotiating new contracts with Empire Wind 1 and Sunrise Wind. The two projects remain in active development and are expected to power over one million New York homes, generate billions of dollars in in-state spending, and support thousands of jobs in project development, component manufacturing, installation, and operations and maintenance.
Empire Wind 1
| Project Capacity: | Planned 810 megawatts |
|---|---|
| Developer: | Equinor |
| Expected Commercial Operation Date | 2027 |
| Website: | Empire Wind  |
| Permitting Status: |
Federal: NY State: |
Empire Wind 1 Key Facts
- At its closest point, the Empire Wind 1 project is located approximately 14 miles from Jones Beach State Park.
- The project will connect to New York’s electricity grid at the Gowanus Substation in Brooklyn.
- The project will establish an operations and maintenance base in Sunset Park, Brooklyn.
Sunrise Wind
| Project Capacity: | Planned 924 megawatts |
|---|---|
| Developer: | Ørsted and Eversource |
| Expected Commercial Operation Date | 2026 |
| Website: | Sunrise Wind |
| Permitting Status: |
Federal: |
Sunrise Wind Key Facts
- At its closest point, the project is located more than 30 miles off the east coast of Long Island.
- The project will connect to New York’s electricity grid at the Holbrook Substation in central Long Island.
- The project will fabricate key components for foundations in the Capital Region.
- The project will establish a regional operations and maintenance hub in Port Jefferson, NY.
LIPA Contracted Project
South Fork Wind Farm
The South Fork Wind Farm is a 130-megawatt offshore wind project approximately 35 miles east of Montauk, Long Island and is New York State’s first operational offshore wind farm delivering first power to the New York grid in December 2023. The South Fork Wind Farm was awarded a contract by the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) in 2017 as the result of a competitive solicitation for new sources of cost-effective power to meet the South Fork’s growing demand for electricity.
For more information, see:
