U.S. Shipbuilding Delays Push Empire Wind’s First Power Into 2027

Delays involving U.S.-built support vessels have pushed back turbine installation at Equinor’s Empire Wind offshore wind project off New York, with first power now expected in the first half of 2027.

Norwegian energy giant Equinor said Thursday that the 810-megawatt project is approximately 80% complete, but construction delays affecting specialized vessels needed to install its 54 wind turbines have pushed the schedule back several months.

“Most of the remaining project scope relates to offshore turbine installation, which is expected to start next year,” Equinor Chief Financial Officer Torgrim Reitan told investors. “This is a bit later than planned.”

The delay underscores the challenges of building out the U.S. offshore wind industry, particularly its reliance on specialized vessels and domestic shipbuilding capacity to meet requirements under the Jones Act.

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