Delays involving U.S.-built support vessels have pushed back turbine installation at Equinor’s Empire Wind offshore wind project off New York, with first power now expected in the first half of 2027. The Norwegian energy company announced the update Thursday alongside its third-quarter 2026 financial results.
Equinor said the 810-megawatt project is approximately 80% complete. All 54 turbine foundations, the offshore substation and the cable work are finished. Located about 14 miles south of Long Island, the project is expected to generate enough electricity to power roughly 500,000 New York homes once operational.
Empire Wind Delay Explained: How Jones Act Vessel Requirements Slowed Offshore Turbine Installation
Equinor Chief Financial Officer Torgrim Reitan told investors that most of the remaining project scope involves offshore turbine installation, which is expected to begin next year, somewhat later than planned. The installation system, developed by Maersk Offshore Wind, centers on the Singapore-built vessel Maersk Viridis, which arrived off Pascagoula, Mississippi, in August for testing and preparations. Because the vessel is foreign-built, the Jones Act bars it from carryi...