Developers of the 165-megawatt (MW) Lillebaelt Syd offshore wind farm in Denmark have commenced geotechnical surveys at the project site, marking a key phase in preparation for construction.
The surveys will be carried out using a mobile drilling platform positioned at each of the 11 planned turbine locations. The aim is to gather detailed information on seabed conditions to support safe and accurate design of turbine foundations and cable routes.
“We are entering this important stage of further measurement of the seabed that we need for the actual design and construction phase of the turbine placement and the cable route to shore,” said Zhanar Dreisig, asset manager at TotalEnergies Denmark. “Both the geophysical surveys, with 3D measurement, and the geotechnical surveys with test drillings are progressing as planned, and we expect to have the full data result by the end of the year.”
The project is owned by TotalEnergies (72.25%), European Energy (15%), and Danish utility SONFOR (12.75%). It follows an earlier phase of geophysical surveying, which provided data on water depth and seabed characteristics.
European Energy’s vice president and head of offshore wind, Andreas Karhula Lauridsen, said the current investigations represent the final site assessment phase before a final design decision is made.
“The surveys form the foundation for a project that is carefully adapted to local conditions and designed with a focus on gentle implementation,” Lauridsen said.
Additional offshore and onshore geotechnical investigations for the wind farm’s export cables will take place later this year, continuing into late 2025. These will determine the best route for connecting the project to the mainland grid.
Environmental assessments for Lillebaelt Syd have already been approved by the Danish Energy Agency, and survey activities are being carried out in accordance with environmental protection guidelines to minimise impact on the marine ecosystem.
Construction of the wind farm is expected to begin in 2027, with commissioning scheduled for 2029.
The project follows a similar round of survey work completed earlier this summer at the 240MW Jammerland Bugt offshore wind farm, located in the Bay of Jammerland and also developed by TotalEnergies and European Energy.
