Mayflower Wind Energy LLC, the joint venture between Shell New Energies US LLC and EDPR Offshore North America, has awarded a contract for fabricating and delivering the Mayflower Wind offshore substation to a joint venture of Bladt Industries and Semco Maritime
Bladt and Semco are already involved in the US offshore wind market having been awarded a contract to fabricate the offshore substation for what will be the first utility-scale offshore windfarm in the US on behalf of Vineyard Wind.
Work on the 1.2-GW offshore substation will get underway this month. The substation will consist of a topside of 4,700 tonnes and a 3,000-tonne jacket foundation.
Bladt Industries will be responsible for engineering, procurement and construction work, including the steel structure and jacket foundation, and Semco Maritime will be responsible for designing, procuring and installing the electrical equipment, auxiliary systems and inter-array cables. The substation is due to be delivered in 2024.
Semco Maritime senior vice president renewables Carsten Nielsen said, “Mayflower Wind provides a unique opportunity to firmly establish our companies in the US offshore wind industry.”
The Mayflower Wind project was chosen by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to supply 804 MW of clean power. Expected start-up for the project is 2025.
Mayflower Wind Energy chief financial officer Michael Brown said, “Recent changes to US tax law allow projects that meet qualification standards in 2020 to secure federal investment tax credits at the 18% level.
“This contract is a key step for us to meet these standards and secure tax credits that will ultimately result in a lower rate for electricity customers in Massachusetts.”