In July, news of an incident in the Vineyard Wind offshore development project off Nantucket Island surprised residents, mariners, and offshore wind stakeholders.
On Monday, July 15, 2024, Vineyard Wind, a joint venture between Avangrid and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, issued an initial statement regarding an incident involving blade damage on a wind turbine in its offshore energy area
"On Saturday evening, Vineyard Wind experienced blade damage on a wind turbine in its offshore development area. No personnel or third parties were in the vicinity of the turbine at the time, and all employees of Vineyard Wind and its contractors are safe and secure. As part of its permitting, Vineyard Wind has detailed plans to guide its response to incidents such as this. Following those protocols, Vineyard Wind established a safety perimeter, and worked with the U.S. Coast Guard to issue notice to mariners. GE, as the project’s turbine and blade manufacturer and installation contractor, will now be conducting the analysis into the root cause of the incident. As that analysis takes place, Vineyard Wind will continue working with federal, state, tribal, and local stakeholders to ensure the health and safety of its workforce, mariners, and the environment."
On July 17, representatives from Vineyard Wind and General Electric, the turbine manufacturer, attended the Town and County of Nantucket Select Board meeting to provide an update on the recent turbine blade failure and the ongoing debris recovery efforts.
The meeting, held in the Community Room at 4 Fairgrounds Road, also allowed for virtual participation. Over 60 people attended the meeting in person, 170 participated online, and over 1600 people tuned in to watch online.
During the meeting, members of the GE and Vineyard Wind teams responded to questions from the Select Board and the public for over three hours.
Jen Cullen, Vineyard Wind's Senior Manager of Labor Relations & Workforce Development, provided an update during the final minutes of the Select Board meeting. She reported that the integrity of the GE Vernova blade had been compromised, with an increased possibility of it detaching from the turbine.
She also reiterated that a 500-meter safety zone around the turbine has been maintained since Saturday night, with constant monitoring. Cullen further explained that Vineyard Wind has mobilized a response team and observed new debris entering the water. The company is notifying various authorities and communities, including the US Coast Guard, federal and state agencies, and local and tribal partners.
On July 17, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) issued a statement regarding an incident involving blade damage on a Vineyard Wind offshore turbine:
“Following the July 13, 2024, blade failure incident at Vineyard Wind, BSEE has issued a Suspension Order to Vineyard Wind to cease power production from all its wind turbine generators until it can be determined whether the blade failure affects any other VW turbines. The Suspension Order suspends power production on the lease area and suspends installation of new wind turbine generator construction: Those operations will remain shut down until the suspension is lifted. BSEE has also issued a Preservation Order to safeguard any evidence that may be relevant to determining the cause of the incident.
As of this date, there are no reported injuries or harm to any marine resources or mammals from the incident. BSEE is onsite with Vineyard Wind as investigations are underway. BSEE will conduct an independent assessment to ensure the safety of future offshore renewable energy operations.”
On July 18, Vineyard Wind, issued an update with information about the remaining turbine blade:
"This morning, a significant part of the remaining GE Vernova blade detached from the turbine. Maritime crews were onsite overnight preparing to respond to this development, though current weather conditions create a difficult working environment. Despite these challenging weather conditions, a fleet of vessels remains at sea managing the situation and working to remove bulk debris. We have deployed additional crews to Nantucket Island in anticipation that more debris could wash ashore tonight and tomorrow as we continue to monitor additional coastal communities.
We are staying apprised of GE Vernova’s efforts to manage the situation, including the removal and recovery of the remaining blade attached to the turbine. With public officials, we will continue to keep the islands informed of developments as we work closely with state, federal, local, and tribal partners to respond to this evolving situation, with the safety of our personnel, the public, and the environment as our highest priority.
If debris is found by members of the public, property owners, or local officials, they are advised to immediately contact our reporting hotline: 833-609-5768. Reports of debris can also be sent directly to the cleanup contractor at this link: Recon Survey (NRCC) (arcgis.com)."
According to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) ,the 800-megawatt Vineyard Wind 1 Offshore Wind Energy Project is located approximately 12 nautical miles offshore Martha's Vineyard and 12 nautical miles offshore Nantucket.
sources: Town and County of Nantucket, Vineyard Wind
Related Information
USCG Guidance on Navigational Safety In and Around Offshore Renewable Energy Installations
