Equinor and bp sign offshore wind agreement

Under the agreement, the terminal will transform into an offshore wind port capable of staging and assembling large, sophisticated offshore wind technology components for the Empire Wind and Beacon Wind projects and for the growing US offshore industry on the east coast.

The agreement was co-signed by terminal operator Sustainable South Brooklyn Marine Terminal (SSBMT) and New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC).

The offshore wind projects on the US east coast are key building blocks to accelerate profitable growth in renewables, and Equinor’s ambition is to install 12 - 16 GW of renewables capacity by 2030.

Equinor and bp will create an operations and maintenance (O&M) hub and staging area at SBMT, with a total investment of US$200 million - US$250 million in infrastructure upgrades, while also pursuing the development of SBMT as a low-emissions facility. The port will become a staging facility for Equinor and bp’s Empire Wind and Beacon Wind projects that will supply 3.3 GWs of energy – enough to power nearly two million New York homes – as well as becoming a go-to destination for future offshore wind projects in the region.

The redevelopment will inject the Sunset Park waterfront with substantial investment from the new renewable energy economy, creating new jobs and providing an economic boost to the community. Equinor and bp’s activities at SBMT are anticipated to support over 1000 jobs annually in the region.

“This agreement marks a major step forward in our commitment to New York State to both provide renewable power and to spark fresh economic activity, while creating enduring jobs,” said Siri Espedal Kindem, President of Equinor Wind US.

“With the support of NYCEDC, SSBMT and our partners in the community, Equinor and bp are ready and eager to invest in the revitalisation of SBMT, a historic port that will soon become a major part of New York’s energy future. New York has shown unflagging determination to become a focal point of the region’s offshore wind industry, and this agreement offers tangible evidence that this vision is quickly coming to life.”

“We are enormously proud to lay the groundwork today for our vision of making New York City a nation-leading hub for the offshore wind industry. This agreement builds on the city’s US$57 million commitment to reactivate SBMT as a key manufacturing and operations base and will help make New York a leader in climate resiliency, as well as air quality through clean energy investments,” said NYCEDC Chief Strategy Officer and Executive Vice President Lindsay Greene.

“Working together with our partners at Equinor, bp, and SSBM, we are also advancing economic recovery and increasing diversity in waterfront construction by helping local minority- and women-owned business enterprises benefit from the growing offshore wind industry and take advantage of the green jobs of the future.”

Felipe Arbelaez, bp’s Senior Vice President for zero carbon energy, added: “Today marks the first of many positive ripple effects from this project – and we want them to reverberate far and wide. As we reinvent energy, we also want to help reinvent the communities that help deliver it by investing in the skills and capabilities needed. By creating this regional hub, we are able to do just that, and it brings us all one step closer to delivering this incredible offshore wind development.”

At approximately 73.1 acres, SBMT will be one of the largest dedicated offshore wind port facilities in the US. It is the only industrial waterfront site in the New York City area with the capacity to accommodate wind turbine generator staging and assembly activities at the scale required by component manufacturers.

Equinor recently announced the opening of the New York offshore wind project office, adjacent to SBMT in Industry City, to serve as the hub for Equinor and bp’s regional offshore wind activities. The office will also be home to an offshore wind learning centre that will provide New Yorkers an opportunity to learn about this growing new industry.

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