Skanska wins $223M contract for offshore wind farm prep

New York-based Skanska USA won the $223 million contract to redevelop the 72 acres of the Portsmouth Marine Terminal that Dominion Energy Inc. will use as a staging area for its $9.8 billion Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project.

The company announced the award on Tuesday. The CVOW calls for the construction of 176 wind turbines 27 miles off the coast of Virginia Beach by 2026, and the State Corporation Commission approved Dominion’s application in August.

“Skanska is honored to work on an innovative and sustainable project that supports the state’s clean energy goals and reflects our value to build for a better society,” Brook Brookshire, senior vice president of Skanska civil operations, said in a statement.

Dominion Energy Inc. and the Port of Virginia signed a lease agreement for the 72 acres in August 2021. Dominion will use its portion of the 287-acre terminal as a staging and pre-assembly area for the foundations and 800-foot wind turbines that it will use in the project.

Port of Virginia Spokesperson Joe Harris said, “It’s going to be a laydown area. There’ll be some assembly there, and there’s going to be a blade finishing facility on site, so it’s a big project, and it’s going to be a great use of that terminal and it’s going to be good for the Port of Virginia, but it’s also going to be good for all of Virginia.”

Turbine installation is expected to begin in 2024. The project’s expected completion is in 2026, and which point it will power up to 660,000 homes.

As part of the contract, Skanska will improve 1,500 feet of an existing 3,540-foot wharf. The company will also build three heavy lift berths, a wind-turbine generator delivery berth, a wind-turbine generator loadout berth and the berth for the steel tube monopiles (turbine foundations).

Skanska will also dredge a channel and access area and will strengthen soils and surfaces so they can handle heavy turbine components. The company will also install lighting, stormwater collection systems, fencing and other structures.

Skanska previously worked with the Virginia Port Authority on a wharf expansion project and renovation at the Norfolk International Terminals.

The U.S. subsidiary of the Swedish parent company, Skanska USA has 30 offices across the country with 7,300 employees. Globally, Skanska has more than 30,000 employees.