Two workers with a crane on the foundation of an Ørsted offshore wind turbine, working on offshore wind construction.

Offshore wind farm construction

Understanding how offshore wind farms are constructed

Offshore wind plays an important role in helping meet our growing energy demands and climate goals. Therefore, meaning it is vitally important we construct offshore wind farms as efficiently and responsibly as possible.

As a global leader in offshore wind with more than 30 years’ experience, we have deep technical skills needed to lead the buildout of the American offshore wind industry. And since offshore wind is an emerging technology in the U.S., we know it’s important to understand how exactly we build these projects and bring clean, reliable energy to local homes and businesses.

The construction process

Building an offshore wind farm involves several stages, starting with the first offshore site investigation years before wind turbine installation begins, and ending with the moment when power generated by the turbines first connects to the onshore grid.

At Ørsted we work on several stages of construction at once, to make the process as efficient as possible – all the while prioritizing coexistence with the natural environment, other ocean users, and local communities.

We employ protective measures during all phases of offshore construction, to ensure no adverse impacts to marine wildlife. These include vessel speed restrictions, time of year restrictions, mandatory observers onboard vessels, construction clearance zones, additional lookout vessels and underwater acoustic monitoring.

We regularly communicate with mariners and the fishing community during the pre-construction and construction phases through our Mariners Briefings.

Vessel offshore operation

Offshore site investigations

Just as you would survey the land and soil before building a home, offshore wind developers survey the seabed and geology in lease areas and along proposed cable routes, before building an offshore wind farm.

Wind turbine installation

Constructing an offshore wind farm is a complex procedure: from choosing the right foundations, to shipping components to the site where they are installed, to ensuring we minimize our impact on the surrounding ecosystem.

Bringing wind power ashore

Learn how electricity generated at sea is brought to shore so that it can be used to power our homes and businesses.

How do offshore wind turbines work?

How do offshore wind turbines work?

Learn how a simple scientific principle combines with cutting-edge technology to capture the natural energy of the ocean breeze and power our homes and businesses.

Seven facts about offshore wind

Seven facts about offshore wind

Learn more about offshore wind, the new clean energy source on America’s east coast