Ocean Winds, a leading offshore wind developer, is embarking on an extensive two-year site survey campaign for its ambitious 2GW Caledonia offshore wind project in the Moray Firth, Scotland. The project aims to gather crucial data for the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process, an essential component of the consenting procedure, across the expansive 429 sq km site.
To facilitate this comprehensive survey program, Ocean Winds has enlisted the services of Fugro, a renowned contractor in the offshore industry. In June 2023, a pair of cutting-edge floating Lidar devices will be deployed at the project site, which encompasses water depths ranging from 40 to 100 meters. These advanced units are equipped with a wide array of sensors and specialized equipment meticulously designed to acquire vital marine environmental data, including wind, wave, and current conditions, among other factors.
One of the notable advantages of this survey campaign is the near real-time transmission of the gathered data to shore, enabling prompt analysis and decision-making. Furthermore, raw data will be stored and downloaded during maintenance visits, ensuring a comprehensive dataset for further evaluation and assessments.
Aside from its contribution to the EIA, the data collected through these surveys will play a pivotal role in supporting the engineering design phase of the Caledonia project. Sarah Graham, the Head of Engineering for Caledonia, expressed the significance of these surveys, stating, “The information we are gathering from these surveys will provide an in-depth and reliable picture of the site, including the export cable corridor, above and beneath the waves, and extending to flora, fauna, and other crucial data sets.”
In parallel with these activities, additional geophysical surveys are also intensifying, building upon the work completed in 2022. The Gardline vessel Ocean Endeavour was mobilized in March 2023 to conduct comprehensive surveys of the offshore export cable route, along with further reconnaissance in the wind farm array area. The work encompasses benthic sub-tidal environmental surveys and sampling, contributing to a comprehensive understanding of the marine ecosystem.
Simultaneously, the Titan Discovery, another dedicated vessel, will conduct geophysical and benthic sub-tidal surveys in the nearshore cable route area. This comprehensive survey work will enhance the understanding of the seabed's shape and profile, water depths, technical constraints, and other critical factors. Sarah Graham emphasized the importance of these surveys, highlighting that they will inform wind farm design, cable routing and installation, as well as landfall site selection.
Ocean Winds' commitment to thorough site surveying and data collection demonstrates their dedication to responsible and sustainable offshore wind development. Through these efforts, they aim to ensure that the Caledonia offshore wind project is designed and implemented with meticulous attention to environmental considerations, thereby contributing to the ongoing global transition towards clean and renewable energy sources.
