USA: Empire Wind

Following a federal offshore wind lease auction, Equinor was awarded the lease in 2017 and initially shared ownership of the project with bp.

Empire Wind was planned as a two-phase development. Empire Wind 1, the first phase, consists of 54 fixed-bottom offshore wind turbines with a total installed capacity of 810 MW. The project’s export cables make landfall at the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal in New York. The terminal plays a key role in both the operation and continued development of Empire Wind.[REMOVE]Fotnote: https://www.empirewind.com/

Empire Wind 2 has yet to be developed, as the project must first achieve greater commercial viability. If realized, it could add a further 1,260 MW of generating capacity.

Construction of Empire Wind 1 began in spring 2024 following regulatory approval. In the same year, Equinor acquired full ownership of the project.

In April 2025, the project received a stop-work order from U.S. authorities. The order was lifted in May, but a new stop-work order was issued in December of the same year. After initiating legal proceedings, Equinor was granted permission in January 2026 to continue construction while the legal basis for the order is being reviewed. Commercial operations are expected to commence in early 2027.

By the turn of 2025/26, Equinor had invested more than USD 4 billion in the project.

Empire Wind can be viewed as a major opportunity for Equinor to strengthen its position in the large U.S. renewable energy market. At the same time, the project illustrates how offshore wind developments can be vulnerable to cost inflation and political uncertainty.

Other Offshore Wind Projects in the United States

Other U.S. offshore wind projects in which Equinor has been involved include Atlas Wind off the coast of California, where the lease area was awarded in December 2022, and a lease area in the Central Atlantic, offshore Delaware, awarded in August 2024.