The Clean Path New York project is being developed under a public-private collaboration between Invenergy, energyRe, and The New York Power Authority (NYPA).
The renewable power project undertaking will consist of more than 20 new wind and solar generation assets and a new high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission link.
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Estimated to cost $11bn, the project will have the capacity to provide 3.8GW of renewable power.
The development aims to meet the clean energy goals outlined in New York’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act of 2019, and provide economic, environmental, and public health benefits to the people of New York.
Clean Path New York will reduce fossil fuel-fired particulate matter emissions from New York’s electric grid by 20%-22% annually. The project will also offset more than 49 million tons of carbon emissions by 2040.
Project background
The Clean Path New York project was formed in response to a request for proposals from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to increase the use of renewable energy in New York City.
In September 2021, New York selected the Clean Path New York project as a part of the NYSERDA’s Tier 4 renewable energy proposals to provide more than 7.5 million megawatt hours of electricity to power over 1.5 million households in New York.
The proposals included the delivery of renewable energy to New York’s Zone J region, which relies heavily on power generation from fossil fuels.
The project agreement was signed with the NYSERDA in November 2021, while the State Public Service Commission granted approval in April 2022.
The Article VII permit for the project was filed in October 2022, which included a full review of the need for the project, its environmental impact, and operation of major transmission facilities in the state of New York.
The first Clean Path New York renewable generation asset known as Number Three Wind started construction in August 2021 and was completed in May 2023.
Clean Path New York project details
The new solar power generation resources will have a total capacity of 1.8GW while the wind power components of the project will have a capacity of 2GW, which includes the completed Number Three Wind project.
The project will also make use of the existing Blenheim-Gilboa pumped storage facility to boost the power capacity.
The 1,300MW, underground HVDC transmission line will run from Delaware County to New York, covering 281km in length. The 400kV HVDC cable will have a cross-linked polyethylene insulated single-core cable. The transmission assets are expected to have a lifespan of more than 70 years.
Most of the transmission line will be built on existing right-of-way used by roads and other transmission lines. It will use the 1.6km-long NYPA existing transmission corridor. The transmission link is expected to commence construction in 2024 and begin operation in 2027.
Number Three Wind energy centre details
Number Three Wind, located in Lewis County, was constructed with an investment of more than $220m.
The 103.9MW project was developed and constructed by Invenergy. It is the first of the wind and solar assets in the Clean Path New York project to start operation. The project covers an area of 18,066 acres.
It features 27 wind turbines, which include 22 V150 turbines from Vestas, each with 4.2MW of rated capacity, and five GE 2.3-116 turbines, each with a rated capacity of 2.3MW.
Up to 53km of 34.5kV underground electrical collection lines connect the turbines. Other infrastructure at the site includes an operations and maintenance facility, a meteorological tower, and a substation.
Power is transferred to the grid via 6km of overhead and underground transmission lines with a transmission capacity of 115kV.
Contractors involved
Cable systems provider Prysmian Group is providing submarine and land power cable systems under a €900m agreement signed with Clean Path New York in October 2023. The company will be responsible for the design, manufacturing, construction, installation, and commissioning services for the HVDC cables.
