Delays with U.S.-built support vessels have pushed back the installation of turbines at Equinor’s Empire Wind offshore wind project near New York, with the first power now expected in the first half of 2027.
Equinor, a major Norwegian energy company, announced on Thursday that the 810-megawatt project is about 80% complete. However, delays in securing specialized vessels needed to install the 54 wind turbines have set back the timeline by several months.
This update was released alongside Equinor's financial results for the third quarter of 2026.
“Most of the remaining work involves offshore turbine installation, which is expected to begin next year,” said Equinor Chief Financial Officer Torgrim Reitan to investors. “This is a bit later than we had planned.”
The delay highlights the difficulties in developing the U.S. offshore wind industry, particularly its dependence on specialized vessels and domestic shipbuilding under the Jones Act.
Empire Wind is using a turbine installation system designed by Maersk Offshore Wind, which is based on the installation vessel Maersk Viridis built in Singapore.
Since this vessel was built outside the U.S., it cannot transport turbine parts between U.S. locations due to the Jones Act. Therefore, the project is dependent on specially designed U.S.-built barges and tugs to move turbine components from the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal to the installation site.
These barges connect directly to Maersk Viridis, allowing for efficient transfer of turbine components without the vessel needing to return to port.
Although Maersk Viridis arrived near Pascagoula, Mississippi, in August for testing, delays with U.S.-built support vessels have resulted in setbacks for the turbine installation.
Equinor confirmed that all 54 turbine foundations are complete, along with the offshore substation and cable work.
Located around 14 miles south of Long Island, the project is expected to produce enough electricity to power about 500,000 homes in New York when it becomes operational.
Budget Remains Unchanged Despite Delays
Despite the delays, Equinor does not foresee any change to the project’s overall budget, although some costs will be shifted from 2026 to 2027.
The estimated total investment for the project, which includes the redevelopment of the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal, is around $7.5 billion.
Equinor expects to receive about $2.5 billion in U.S. investment tax credits, with roughly $2 billion anticipated in 2027 and the remaining $500 million in 2028.
The company noted that the revised construction schedule should not affect the timing of these tax credits.
Construction Continues After Federal Stop-Work Orders
This latest delay follows a challenging time for Empire Wind, which has faced multiple attempts by the Trump administration to halt construction.
The first work stoppage was ordered in April 2025 due to concerns over the federal permitting process, but this order was lifted the following month.
A second work suspension occurred in December 2025, when the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management halted construction on Empire Wind and four other offshore wind projects due to national security worries.
Equinor contested the suspension in federal court and achieved preliminary relief that allowed construction to continue.
In its financial reports for the third quarter, Equinor noted that the court dismissed the case on September 30, 2026, after the suspension expired. This dismissal removed the risk that a $2.7 billion project loan could become due within 12 months due to the suspension.
Empire Wind remains one of the largest offshore wind projects under construction in the U.S., with this recent setback emphasizing the critical need for domestic vessel construction to keep projects on schedule.