Dutch geo-data specialist Fugro has secured contracts to carry out geophysical and geotechnical site investigations for two major offshore wind farms in the German North Sea, as part of a joint venture between energy companies RWE and TotalEnergies.
The projects, named Windbostel Ost and Windbostel West, will have a combined generation capacity of 4 gigawatts (GW) and are located northwest of the island of Borkum. Fugro’s investigations will provide critical seabed and subsurface data to support the planning and construction of the wind farms.
The initial geophysical surveys will deliver detailed mapping of the seabed and shallow subsurface layers to identify potential hazards and guide early-stage design. This will be followed by geotechnical investigations involving in-situ testing and sampling to assess soil composition and characteristics.
The combined data will be used to inform foundation design, cable routing, structural integrity assessments, and overall risk management during both the construction and operational phases.
“This project aligns with our goal of supporting the development of sustainable energy solutions and using our expertise in complex offshore investigations,” said John ten Hoope, Fugro’s regional business line director for marine site characterisation in Europe and Africa. “We are committed to providing the critical geo-data needed for the safe and efficient development of these important wind farms, contributing to the growth of renewable energy in the North Sea.”
Fugro previously conducted similar investigations for the 1.6GW Nordseecluster project in Germany and has also provided geotechnical data for the German Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH).
