Equinor has begun construction works at the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal (SBMT) in New York, facilitating the rebuilding of the port facility into a hub for offshore wind on the US East Coast. Following reconstruction, SBMT will support Equinor's first US offshore wind project, Empire Wind 1.
Equinor said the facility will be one of the largest dedicated offshore wind hubs in the United States. It will be designed to accommodate future offshore wind projects.
The 73-acre (30-hectare) construction project will create a staging and pre-assembly site for the turbine components of Empire Wind 1 and will include an onshore substation to connect 810 MW of wind power to the Gowanus substation. This will make Empire Wind 1 the first offshore wind project to connect directly into the New York City grid.
SBMT will also be home to Empire Wind 1's long-term Operations and Maintenance Base, which will include a control room that can measure turbine data and monitor the project continuously. SBMT is also being developed as a low-emissions facility, with solar power and EV charging stations installed on-site.
SBMT is being redeveloped together with the New York City Economic Development Corporation and terminal operator Sustainable South Brooklyn Marine Terminal (SSBMT). SSBMT is a joint venture of Red Hook Terminals and Industry City.