Fugro, a global leader in geo-intelligence and asset integrity solutions, has been awarded the geophysical survey contract for the development of the Dutch Doordewind offshore wind farm zone.
The Doordewind project, spearheaded by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), forms a crucial component of the Dutch government's Offshore Wind Energy Roadmap 2030. Designed to accelerate the expansion of offshore wind energy in the Netherlands, the initiative aims to harness the nation's vast offshore wind potential.
Situated approximately 77 kilometers off the north coast of The Netherlands, the Doordewind zone is slated to be the first wind farm to link up to the Eemshaven. Encompassing an expansive area of about 580 square kilometers, the zone is slated to accommodate a total capacity of 4 gigawatts (GW), distributed across two sites of 2GW each.
Commencing in April 2024, fieldwork will be executed utilizing Fugro's cutting-edge geophysical vessel, the Fugro Pioneer. Outfitted with specialized digital streamers and processing technology, the vessel will facilitate 2D (UUHR) surveys, enabling comprehensive data acquisition.
Employing proprietary software and state-of-the-art positioning systems with decimeter accuracy, this methodology promises detailed ground modeling and nuanced interpretation of near-surface geology. Such insights will prove instrumental in guiding future geotechnical investigations and optimizing the design of offshore wind farms.
The gathered information will also play a pivotal role in charting the course for subsequent geotechnical studies and the design of offshore wind farm infrastructure and installations.
Expressing satisfaction with the collaboration, RVO's project manager, Giljaam van der Meulen, remarked, “RVO is challenging the offshore market to come up with innovations to speed up the energy transition in the Netherlands. In site studies, RVO is constantly looking for innovations and improvements in the process. Fugro is a company that understands this perfectly, so we are happy to work with them in this project.”
