At the 2.6 GW Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) project developed by Dominion Energy, installation of the first offshore wind turbine is now underway. When all 176 Siemens Gamesa turbines rated at 14 MW each are in place, CVOW is scheduled to operate as the largest offshore wind farm in the United States and among the biggest such projects worldwide.
On 21 January, local broadcaster WAVY reported that a turbine tower was being lifted into position at the CVOW site. The new unit is being installed alongside the two turbines deployed earlier for the project’s demonstration phase, signalling the shift from pilot facilities to full commercial-scale turbine installation.
Turbine installation offshore is being carried out by the wind turbine installation vessel Charybdis. The ship is the first WTIV built to comply with the Jones Act, was ordered by Dominion Energy, and constructed at the AmFELS shipyard in Brownsville, Texas, operated by Seatrium.
Offshore activities for the 2.6 GW project began in 2024. By the time the US government issued a stop-work order for CVOW on 22 December, construction offshore had already reached an advanced stage.
On 23 December, Dominion Energy filed a request for a temporary restraining order and an injunction with the US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. The court granted a preliminary injunction on 16 January, allowing offshore construction at CVOW, including turbine installation, to proceed.
Following the stop-work notice, Dominion Energy said the wind farm remained on track to achieve first power in the first quarter of this year and to reach full commissioning by the end of 2026.
Once all 176 Siemens Gamesa 14 MW units are installed and operating at full capacity, CVOW is expected to deliver 2.6 GW of offshore wind power, reinforcing its role as the leading offshore wind project in the US market.
