Belgian contractor G-Tec has commenced a geophysical seabed survey for the Elwind offshore wind project, a joint Estonian-Latvian initiative planned in the Baltic Sea, the project developers said on Monday.
The Elwind project, backed by the governments of Estonia and Latvia, is expected to have a capacity of at least 1 gigawatt (GW) and forms part of the region’s push to expand renewable energy infrastructure and cross-border energy cooperation.
The survey will provide detailed geological data to inform design decisions and reduce development risks. G-Tec has deployed its survey vessel Karina to the designated offshore areas to assess seabed and subsurface conditions.
“We are proud to have succeeded in this challenging and highly competitive tender for geophysical surveys, which will support the development of offshore wind projects in both Estonia and Latvia,” said Goya Bauwens, a representative of G-Tec.
The scope of the geophysical campaign includes identifying potential seabed hazards, optimising the planning of future geotechnical investigations, and improving the accuracy of site-specific engineering and construction plans.
In parallel, Elwind has signed an agreement with Eolos Floating Lidar Solutions to carry out in-situ metocean measurements. This phase of the project will gather meteorological and oceanographic data, supporting the next stages of wind farm development.
The metocean data will guide the design, installation, and operation of key project infrastructure, including turbines, cables, substations, and foundations.
The Elwind project is one of several large-scale offshore wind developments advancing in the Baltic region as European countries accelerate efforts to increase renewable energy capacity and strengthen energy security.
