Siemens Gamesa has revealed plans to build a major manufacturing facility for offshore wind turbine nacelles at the Port of Coeymans, in New York, if wind farms comprising its turbines are selected by the state in the ongoing third offshore wind solicitation.
This is the second facility the company has announced for the US, the first one being an offshore wind turbine blade finishing facility in Portsmouth, Virginia.
The company says the nacelle plant in New York could create up to 420 direct jobs, support a significant rise in indirect jobs, and represent an investment of around USD 500 million in the region.
With steel component fabrication, bearings, and composite components planned to be procured locally, the number of jobs created by the facility could double, according to Siemens Gamesa.
The proposed facility and supplier network in New York would supply components for both Siemens Gamesa offshore wind power projects in New York waters and those along the US East Coast, with the facility’s design allowing for potential expansion to guarantee its long-term development.
The company has secured a site at the Port of Coeymans and has already developed advanced engineering plans and 3D visualizations.
The results of New York’s third offshore wind solicitation are expected to be announced this Spring.
The state opened the solicitation in July 2022 and last month the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) reported that the state attracted more than 100 total proposals for eight new projects from six offshore wind developers.
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The six offshore wind developers who responded to the solicitation are Ørsted and Eversource, Equinor and bp, RWE and National Grid, Invenergy and energyRe, Rise Light & Power , and Vineyard Offshore .
So far, Siemens Gamesa wind turbines for projects in New York were selected by Ørsted and Eversource, who are building New York’s first offshore wind farm, the 130 MW South Fork , which will comprise the company’s 8 MW units.
The two partners have also chosen the wind turbine manufacturer for their Sunrise Wind project, a 924 MW offshore wind farm planned to deliver energy to New York in late 2025.
New York’s offshore wind solicitation supports the state’s plan to develop 9 GW of offshore wind energy by 2035 as a key component in achieving 70 per cent renewable electricity by 2030 and 100 per cent zero-emissions electricity by 2040.