Empire Wind

What Empire Wind does

Empire Wind is a privately held offshore wind energy project located 15-30 miles southeast of Long Island, New York, operating on an 80,000-acre federal lease acquired in 2017. It is wholly owned by Equinor (Norway) following a January 2024 swap transaction that absorbed bp's 50% non-operated interest; Equinor originally sold that interest to bp in September 2020 for $1.1 billion as part of a strategic US offshore wind partnership. The core asset, Empire Wind 1, is an 810 MW installation comprising 54 Vestas V236-15MW turbines — among the most powerful offshore turbines deployed in the US — designed to power approximately 500,000 New York homes once operational.

The project's commercial model is a B2G offtake structure with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA): all power generation and renewable energy certificates (ORECs) are sold to NYSERDA under long-term purchase and sale agreements awarded in 2019 (Empire Wind 1, 816 MW) and 2021 (Empire Wind 2, 1,260 MW), with a broader New York portfolio including Beacon Wind 1 (1,230 MW) totaling ~3.3 GW. Total project capital is approximately $3 billion, with financial close on Empire Wind 1 reached in January 2025 and construction beginning Spring 2024 after securing key federal (BOEM COP, EPA Clean Air Act) and state (Article VII) approvals. Empire Wind's operational backbone includes the 73-acre South Brooklyn Marine Terminal ($200-250M upgrade) as its O&M, staging, and grid interconnection hub; the Port of Albany tower manufacturing facility (with Marmen and Welcon); and Jones Act-compliant installation (Maersk WIV) and service (Edison Chouest ECO Liberty plug-in hybrid SOV) vessels.

Empire Wind operates in a multi-stakeholder ecosystem encompassing community, workforce, and supply chain development: a $5M Offshore Wind Ecosystem Fund (with NYCEDC), an Innovation Hub (with NYU Tandon and NOWRDC), union Project Labor Agreement, supplier expos across three New York regions, and near real-time marine mammal acoustic monitoring (with WCS/WHOI) all support its social license to operate. The project has experienced two BOEM stop-work orders in 2025 (April and December), each subsequently lifted — through negotiation and via federal preliminary injunction in January 2026 — highlighting acute regulatory and political risk tied to federal offshore wind policy.

Name

Empire Wind

Legal name

Empire Wind

Website

https://empirewind.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Empire Wind is an Equinor-owned offshore wind project 15-30 miles off Long Island, New York, comprising 54 Vestas V236-15MW turbines (810 MW) selling all power and renewable energy certificates to NYSERDA under long-term offtake agreements to supply ~500,000 homes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Offshore Wind Power Generation

NAICS

Wind Electric Power Generation (221115)

akta.pro primary industry

Offshore Wind Power Generation (Fixed-Bottom) (EUACAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wind Farm Ownership & Operations (IPP/Utility-Owned Asset Operations) (EUACAFAF), Wind Farm Development & Permitting (Greenfield/Brownfield) (EUACAFAE), Wind Turbine Installation & Commissioning (Cranes, Vessels, Jack-ups) (EUAMACAG), Wind Operations, Maintenance & Asset Management (Scheduled/Unscheduled) (EUAMACAH), Wind Blades, Towers & Foundations Manufacturing (EUAMAHAE)

Keywords

• Offshore wind energy
• Renewable power generation
• Utility-scale wind farms
• Clean energy infrastructure
• Offshore wind development

Headquarters

HQ city

Brooklyn

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Offshore Wind Power Generation & Sales: Empire Wind generates electricity from 54 offshore wind turbines (810 MW capacity) and sells power and renewable energy certificates (ORECs) to New York State under long-term purchase and sale agreements with NYSERDA. Revenue is derived from fixed OREC payments plus wholesale electricity sales.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Empire Wind develops, constructs, and operates an offshore wind farm located 15-30 miles southeast of Long Island spanning 80,000 acres. The project consists of Empire Wind 1 (810 MW with 54 Vestas V236-15MW turbines) and Empire Wind 2, generating and selling renewable electricity and Offshore Renewable Energy Certificates (ORECs) to the New York State grid under long-term offtake agreements with NYSERDA.

Product overview

Empire Wind is an offshore wind energy development project operated by Equinor and bp through a 50/50 strategic partnership. The project consists of two phases: Empire Wind 1 (810 MW with 54 turbines) and Empire Wind 2, collectively offering over 2 GW of capacity. The portfolio includes next-generation Vestas V236-15MW turbines, the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal as the staging and operations hub, the Port of Albany manufacturing facility for towers and transition pieces, a plug-in hybrid service operations vessel, the Offshore Wind Innovation Hub accelerator program, WindScape Brooklyn learning center, the Offshore Wind Ecosystem Fund for community grants, and near real-time marine acoustic monitoring for wildlife protection.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Empire Wind 1 An 810-megawatt offshore wind farm located 15-30 miles southeast of Long Island, featuring 54 Vestas V236-15MW turbines capable of powering approximately 500,000 New York homes. Sells electricity and ORECs to NYSERDA under long-term offtake agreements.
• Empire Wind 2 A 1,260 MW offshore wind farm expansion phase of the Empire Wind portfolio, awarded to Equinor in New York's second offshore wind solicitation. Combined with Empire Wind 1, the portfolio totals over 2 GW of renewable capacity.
• Offshore Renewable Energy Certificates (ORECs) and Power Supply Renewable energy certificates (ORECs) and wholesale electricity sold to NYSERDA under long-term offtake agreements, providing New York State with renewable power generation capacity to meet its 9,000 MW offshore wind by 2035 goal.

Quantifiable outcome

• 810 MW of renewable energy capacity
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Skanska USAcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 7 February 2023Construction manager for South Brooklyn Marine Terminal port upgrade. Initial pre-construction services, with construction expected to begin 2024. Transformative project to create industry-leading offshore wind port facility.
• New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 November 2022Co-creator of $5 million Offshore Wind Ecosystem Fund for workforce development and climate justice. Joint development of South Brooklyn Marine Terminal. Partnership for Sunset Park waterfront revitalization.
• Sunset Park Task ForceminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 November 2022Community advisory group maximizing economic potential and community links between Sunset Park residents and waterfront. Participates in Offshore Wind Ecosystem Fund governance and strategy committees.
• Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 September 2022Extended agreement to 2028 for near real-time acoustic monitoring of large whales in lease area. Partnership with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) for NRT PAM buoys. Data publicly available. Monitors fin, humpback, sei, and North Atlantic right whales.
• NYU Tandon School of Engineering (Urban Future Lab)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 June 2022Three-year partnership for Offshore Wind Innovation Hub in Brooklyn. Accelerator program for startups, co-working space, educational programming. Part of National Offshore Wind R&D Consortium (NOWRDC) ecosystem.
• National Offshore Wind R&D Consortium (NOWRDC)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 June 2022Partnership supporting Offshore Wind Innovation Hub. Not-for-profit public-private partnership advancing offshore wind technology. Funded by US DOE and NYSERDA (each $20.5M) plus other state contributions.
• Edison Chouest OffshorecoreTechnology or Integration · 12 May 2022Long-term service operations vessel (SOV) charter agreement - first plug-in hybrid SOV in US offshore wind. 10-year charter, accommodates 60 technicians, Jones Act compliant, home port at South Brooklyn Marine Terminal. Estimated 250+ US jobs during construction.
• Maersk Supply ServicecoreTechnology or Integration · 29 March 2022Wind installation vessel (WIV) charter agreement for installation of Vestas V236-15MW turbines. Vessel features Jones Act-compliant spread with dock-in feeder solution. Supported by US-constructed barges and tugs from Kirby Offshore Wind.
• Kirby Offshore WindcoreTechnology or Integration · 29 March 2022US-constructed barges and tugs for transport of turbine components from South Brooklyn Marine Terminal to lease area. Supports Maersk wind installation vessel with dock-in feeder solution.
• South Brooklyn Marine Terminal (SSBMT)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 March 2022Terminal operator Sustainable South Brooklyn Marine Terminal (joint venture of Red Hook Terminals and Industry City) partnered with NYCEDC for port redevelopment. USD 200-250 million infrastructure investment. 73-acre facility to become staging/assembly hub and O&M base.
• New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 8 December 2021Primary offtake buyer for Empire Wind power and renewable energy certificates. Awarded Empire Wind 1 (816 MW) in 2019 and Empire Wind 2 (1,260 MW) in 2021 as part of state's offshore wind solicitations.
• VestascoreTechnology or Integration · 18 October 2021Preferred turbine supplier agreement for 138 V236-15MW wind turbine generators totaling ~2GW for Empire Wind 1 and 2. One of the largest offshore wind turbine supply agreements in the US. Includes service and warranty contracts.
• Marmen and WelconcoreTechnology or Integration · 13 January 2021Partnership at Port of Albany to create America's first offshore wind tower and transition piece manufacturing facility. Welcon (Denmark) is world's leading offshore wind tower manufacturer. Expected to create 350 direct jobs. Facility operational by end of 2023.
• BP (British Petroleum)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 September 202050-50 strategic partnership for US offshore wind development. BP acquired 50% non-operated interests in Empire Wind and Beacon Wind assets for USD 1.1 billion. Equinor remains operator during development, construction, and operations. Transaction effective January 1, 2020, closing expected early 2021.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves15 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Sunrise Wind: Ørsted/Eversource's 924 MW offshore wind project off Long Island, NY, also selling ORECs to NYSERDA under the same New York offshore wind solicitations. Direct competitor for NYSERDA capacity awards and similar Northeast US offshore wind deployment.
• Beacon Wind: Equinor's sister 1,230 MW project (originally part of the Equinor-bp portfolio), located in the same broader MA/RI/NE waters and also sold to NYSERDA. Most directly comparable to Empire Wind because of shared operator, supply chain infrastructure, and offtake framework.
• Vineyard Wind 1: Avangrid/CIP's 800 MW offshore wind project off Massachusetts, one of the first commercial-scale offshore wind farms operating in the US. Directly comparable in technology class, US permitting pathway, and Northeast US deployment, and a competitive benchmark for first-to-operate status.
• South Fork Wind: Ørsted and Eversource's 132 MW offshore wind farm off New York, operational since 2024. Direct comparable as another small/mid-scale offshore wind project serving New York demand via Long Island, with similar regulatory and Jones Act compliance profile.
• Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind: Shell/EDF Renewables' offshore wind project off New Jersey with awarded capacity in the same PJM/NEPOOL region. Directly comparable US offshore wind developer competing for the same federal lease areas and East Coast offtake customers.
• Park City Wind: Avangrid/CIP's offshore wind project off Connecticut, also selected in Northeast US solicitations. Direct comparable in scale, technology class, and offtake structure for New England utilities.
• Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind: Dominion Energy's 2.6 GW offshore wind project off Virginia, the largest offshore wind project in the US. Directly comparable utility-scale fixed-bottom US offshore wind deployment with similar permitting, Jones Act vessel, and grid interconnection challenges.
• Revolution Wind: Ørsted/Eversource's 704 MW offshore wind project off Rhode Island/Connecticut, partially operational. Direct peer serving Northeast US load with similar offtake structure and supply chain constraints.

Broad incumbents

• Equinor: Norwegian integrated energy major and Empire Wind's operator/sole owner since January 2024. Provides Empire Wind with global offshore wind expertise, capital, and access to a broader portfolio of US and international offshore wind assets; functions as the project's ultimate parent and strategic decision-maker.
• Ørsted (US Offshore): Global offshore wind leader with multiple operational and development-stage US projects (Sunrise, South Fork, Revolution). Comparable as the dominant US offshore wind competitor and likely benchmark for Empire Wind's operational performance and offtake pricing.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/EquinorWindUS
• YouTubeyoutube.com/playlist?list=PLyySEZle89TLBkMuQv26TyG_7HbsG9dGJ&si=3QNSE9rTOW3gii0X
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Empire Wind