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Empire Wind Field Rendering

Empire Wind 1

Equinor is building Empire Wind 1,

15-30 miles south of Long Island.

810 MW

Producing 810 MW of renewable energy

500,000

Potentially Powering 500,000 New York homes

Empire Wind is being built by Equinor a leading international energy company. Equinor brings more than 20 years of experience in offshore wind. This includes assets in key markets including the UK, Poland, Germany and South Korea.  

Empire Wind is located 15-30 miles southeast of Long Island. It will span 80,000 acres, with water depths of between approximately 75 and 135 feet. The lease was acquired in 2017. The project is being developed in two phases. Empire Wind 1, which will deliver 810 MW of energy into Brooklyn, powering 500,000 New York homes. This power will play a vital role in moving New York towards its goal of developing 9 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind power by 2035. A second part of the llease area, Empire Wind 2 is currently in early stage development with options currently being assessed.

The Empire Wind project will be the first offshore wind project to deliver power directly to New York City. It will bring power onshore at the Sunset Park Onshore Substation, located next to the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal. After that, the power will continue to Gowanus Brooklyn Substation where it will interconnect into the New York City grid.

Location of Empire Wind 1

Empire Wind 1 will start about 15 miles south of Long Island. It will be made up of 54 wind turbines going South and East in a triangle shape. The layout allows for maritime navigation through the lease area. The turbines will be up to 951 feet tall. As the wind turbines rotate they generate power which will be delivered to an offshore substation. That power will then be sent onshore via two submarine export cables. These 40 nautical mile cables will deliver the power to an onshore substation in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. That power will then continue onto Gowanus, Brooklyn where it will connect into the New York City grid.

Map of the Empire Wind lease area.

Turbines

54 turbines will be built in the Empire Wind 1 lease area. These turbines will have a 15MW capacity. Each turbine rotation will power a New York home for 1.5 days. Vestas is the supplier for wind turbine generators for the Empire Wind 1 project.

Community Led Development

Empire Wind 1 will generate substantial economic activity in New York State, New York City, and in Sunset Park Brooklyn. Over 1,000 people are expected to help build the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal and Empire Wind 1. The construction at the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal will be done under a project labor agreement. The project has already made significant local investments including:

  • Offshore Wind Ecosystem Fund – $5 million fund to support local New York organizations. These organizations are fostering the offshore wind industry, supporting low-income New Yorkers and New York Housing Authority (NYCHA) residents in the green energy transition and growing the green energy ecosystem in New York City.
  • Offshore Wind Innovation Hub – a Brooklyn-based accelerator program for offshore wind innovation. The Innovation Hub has offices in Industry City, which is located in Sunset Park Brooklyn.
  • WindScape Brooklyn– is expected to open in Q1 2025. WindScape Brooklyn will be a public space for offshore wind education.
  • Small Community Grants Program – a program dedicated to empowering New York City communities by providing funding to established programs that deliver social and environmental benefits, address local needs, and support the growth of a strong and diverse offshore wind industry. Grants of up to $30,000 can be awarded from this fund.
Winners of the Offshore Wind Ecosystem Fund – October 2023

Empire Wind 1 Permitting Timeline

Equinor finalized the federal lease for Empire Wind in March 2017. This came after the successful Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s (BOEM) auction in December 2016. Empire Wind received its Article VII approval from New York State in December 2023. BOEM issued final approval for the Final Construction and Operations Plan (COP) in February 2024.

Permitting Timeline 2017-2024
Permitting Timeline 2017-2024

Empire Wind 1 Construction Timeline

Construction on the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal began in June 2024, with a groundbreaking ceremony. The terminal will take about two years to complete construction. Offshore construction will begin in 2025. First power is expected to be delivered in late 2026. Empire Wind is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2027.

Construction timeline for the Empire Wind 1 project 2024-2027

Stay Up-To-Date

Stay up-to-date with the Empire Wind project and the progress at the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal (SBMT) by signing up for the Empire Energizer and for Construction Notices. These periodic emails include important information about the project, Empire Wind in the community, and construction updates from SBMT.


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