America’s known for having an appreciation for all things big, so it may not be surprising that the first ‘commercial scale’ offshore wind farm in the US will be home to the biggest and most powerful wind turbines the world has ever seen.
The wind farm will be located 15 miles off the Southern coast of Martha’s Vineyard, an island off Massachusetts. To take advantage of strong winds in the area, the 800 MW renewable energy project will use GE’s enormous Haliade-X turbines, which are as tall as an 85-story building (853 ft) and can power a home for two days with one spin.
By making them so huge, these 351-foot long blades capture some 45 percent more energy than any other product on the market. Just for reference, just one blade is about as long as a football field. Their size also makes them more effective at lower wind speeds, making its overall output more predictable. And by making use of fewer yet larger wind turbines, the project can cut down on installation costs.
The Vineyard Wind 1 wind farm, as it’s being called, will power about 400,000 houses in the New England area and is set to become active in 2023. When it’s up and online, we’ll be sure to update you.
Image source: GE
