Wind farm in final construction phase

The Block Island Wind Farm turbines will be constructed in August, according to developer Deepwater Wind’s report to the state Coastal Resources Management Council Tuesday.

The project is in its final stages of development. The underwater cables that will transport the power generated from the five turbines to Block Island and Narragansett are in place and the structures upon which the turbines will be erected need only painting and minor tweaks to be operational.

The cable, which was a hot-button issue in Narragansett when Deepwater Wind and National Grid first proposed landing it at Narragansett Town Beach. After the Narragansett Town Council turned down that proposal, developers opted to land it at Scarborough State Beach, where it sits 10 feet below sea level at the shoreline. The minimum depth of the cable, per regulations, is 4 feet below the sea floor. Deepwater Wind CEO Jeffrey Grybowski noted in his presentation that 97 percent of the cables met the requirement, while the final 3 percent will be modified with padding to ensure safety.

“We are very satisfied where we are with the cables,” Grybowski said. “90 percent are 6 feet, or more than 6 feet deep, and only 7 percent are at the minimum depth of 4 feet.”

As for the installation of the turbines, that work is close to its start. The last major components to be completed – the five nacelles – began their journey across the Atlantic from a manufacturing facility in St. Nazaire, France, July 15. Grybowski said they may arrive as early as Friday, at which point installation would begin. Meanwhile, all 15 turbine tower sections and the blades, supplied by GE Renewable Energy and its blade manufacturer, LM Wind Power, have been delivered to ProvPort in Providence. These components will be shuttled to the project site by two Montco Offshore liftboats – the L/B Paul and the L/B Caitlin, which arrived at Quonset Point earlier this month.

With the latest and most delicate part of the installation process beginning soon, Grybowski said the safety record has been excellent. After nearly 7,000 hours of work – both on ships, the foundations and underwater – there have been no serious injuries reported.

Grybowski said the turbine towers, blades and nacelles will be installed in early August and should take about three weeks to complete. While the blades have been tested by both French officials and Deepwater Wind, there will still be a testing period after the installation is complete to ensure safety and efficiency. Grybowski said the wind farm should be operational in November.

On the mainland, Grybowski said the work to bring the underground cable to the switching station, being built next to the salt shed in Narragansett, is underway.

CRMC Chairwoman Anne Livingston asked for clarification as to whether the turbines would be the largest in the world to date. Grybowski said there is one of similar size in Denmark, but the Block Island Wind Farm was the largest project of its kind. He also said the developers used local businesses, contractors and workers as much as possible, and that 300 area residents have performed jobs including diving, painting and construction work.

The Block Island Wind Farm is the first offshore wind farm in America, and both Deepwater Wind and state officials lauded the completion of the project as a historic moment for Rhode Island and the chance to build a burgeoning energy industry here.

“Projects like the Block Island Wind Farm are the future not only of Rhode Island’s economy, but the whole country’s economy,” said Gov. Gina M. Raimondo in a press release after an event celebrating the final stage of construction was held Monday at ProvPort. “With this project, Rhode Island continues to position itself as a leader and an innovator in the industries of the future.”

narragansett@independent ri.com