Fugro secures Dutch geophysical survey contract

Fugro has been awarded the geophysical survey contract for the development of the Doordewind offshore wind zone in the Netherlands.

Fieldwork is planned to commence in April 2024 and will be conducted with Fugro’s geophysical vessel Fugro Pioneer.

Onboard are customized digital streamers and processing technology that enable 2D ultra-ultra-high resolution (UUHR) surveys. Using proprietary software and decimetre accuracy positioning systems, this data acquisition method enables detailed ground modeling and interpretation of near-surface geology to inform future geotechnical investigations and the design of offshore wind farms.

The data will also be used for planning geotechnical investigations and design of the offshore wind farm and installations.

The Doordewind project, led by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), is part of the Dutch Government’s Offshore Wind Energy Roadmap 2030, which aims to accelerate the development of offshore wind in the Netherlands.

In March 2022, the Dutch Government designated three new offshore wind zone – Nederwiek, Lagelander, Doordewind – and confirmed two previously designated zones, the northern part of Ijmuiden Ver and the southern part of Hollandse Kust West.

Three months later, the government announced the tendering timelines and locations for nine offshore wind projects within the zones, which have a combined capacity of up to 13.4 GW.

The Doordewind wind farm zone is located approximately 77 kilometers off the north coast of the Netherlands and will be the first wind farm to connect to the Eemshaven. The total wind farm area is about 580 square kilometers and is planned to contain a total capacity of 4 GW divided over two sites of 2 GW each.

The 2 GW Doordewind I and the 2 GW Doordewind II are planned to be put up for auction in 2027, with the commissioning set for 2031.