Dominion teams up with Dong on 12-MW offshore demo in US

Dominion Energy Virginia on Monday announced that it will partner with Danish energy company Dong Energy A/S (CPH:DENERG) to install 12 MW of offshore wind power capacity off the coast of Virginia Beach.

The two companies have entered a strategic partnership for the project, which involves the installation and testing of two 6-MW turbines on a 2,135-acre (864-ha) site leased by the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy under the Dominion Energy Inc’s (NYSE:D) Coastal Virginia offshore wind project, formerly known as the Virginia offshore wind technology assessment project.

Dong is expected to start engineering and development works immediately to meet the installation deadline set for end-2020. Dominion Energy is the sole owner of the project.

The research data gathered at the site will provide “critical operational, weather and environmental experience” needed for the development of an adjacent wind lease area of 112,800 acres. That site has been leased by Dominion Energy and could accommodate up to 2,000 MW of turbines, if fully developed

Based on the successful deployment of the two turbines, Dong Energy could discuss a strategic partnership with Dominion about the development of the commercial site.

Dominion Energy commenced work on the project in 2011 as part of a government programme for the development and testing of new wind technologies aimed at cutting costs and withstanding extreme weather conditions such as hurricanes.

Choose your newsletter by Renewables Now. Join for free!