GZA conducts geotechnical offshore investigation for Block Island Wind Farm; five wind turbine farm first of kind in nation
PROVIDENCE, RI…ISSUED NOVEMBER 3, 2016… GZA, a leading environmental and geotechnical engineering consulting firm, is proud to announce its participation in the Block Island Wind Farm and extends congratulations to its client, Deepwater Wind, for achieving completion of the highly anticipated project.
Deepwater Wind anticipates that the first power to be generated from offshore wind in the United States will start at the end of November, when the Block Island Wind Farm comes online. The Block Island Wind Farm consists of five 6.0 MW wind turbines located approximately 3 miles south east of Block Island, Rhode Island. The project includes construction of underground cables connecting the wind farm to Block Island, and also underground cables connecting Block Island to the mainland grid for the first time. The project will reduce the electric rates on Block Island by approximately 40%. It will also reduce harmful emissions as Block Island will no longer have to burn diesel fuel to generate its energy.
GZA’s participation in the project began in the fall of 2008 when the firm was contracted by Deepwater Wind to provide geotechnical engineering services for the offshore wind farm.
An offshore geotechnical program consisting of geotechnical explorations with offshore and onshore laboratory testing, was developed and implemented by GZA to provide a geotechnical engineering evaluation and report. The exploration was completed from a 245-class lift boat out of the Gulf of Mexico in 75 to 95 ft of water. The GZA report included recommended soil parameter values for each turbine location, pile capacity, pile axial and lateral deformation curves, and pile drivability and constructability issues.
GZA assisted GE and Deepwater Wind during construction with design of the staging facilities at the Port of Providence. Services included design of foundations and structures used for staging and assembly of the wind turbine components, and evaluation of the granite seawall for stability.
The GZA Principal for this groundbreaking project was Russell J. Morgan, P.E., Office Manager of the Providence Office. The GZA Project Manager was Diane Y. Baxter, Ph.D., P.E. Associate Principal with the Providence Office.
About GZA
Founded in 1964, GZA is a multi-disciplinary firm providing Environmental, Geotechnical, Ecological, Water, and Construction Management services. GZA maintains corporate offices at 249 Vanderbilt Avenue, Norwood, MA 02062. The firm has over 550 employees and operates 27 offices in the New England, Mid-Atlantic, Great Lakes and Appalachian Regions of the United States. For additional information, please call William Hadge, CEO at 781-278-3801 or visit the company’s website at www.gza.com