Fugro's geophysical survey approach chosen for Doordewind project
Fugro has secured the geophysical survey contract for the Dutch Doordewind offshore wind farm zone development. Fugro’s selection was driven by its pioneering 2D ultra-ultra-high resolution (UUHR) surveys, delivering unparalleled data quality. Spearheaded by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), the Doordewind project aligns with the Dutch government’s Offshore Wind Energy Roadmap 2030, aimed at expediting offshore wind development in the Netherlands.
Fieldwork is set to commence in April 2024 aboard Fugro’s geophysical vessel, the Fugro Pioneer. Equipped with custom digital streamers and cutting-edge processing technology, the vessel facilitates 2D (UUHR) surveys. Leveraging proprietary software and precise decimetre-level positioning systems, this advanced data acquisition method empowers detailed ground modelling and interpretation of near-surface geology. These insights inform subsequent geotechnical investigations and the design of offshore wind farms. Moreover, the data will guide planning for geotechnical investigations and the design of both the offshore wind farm and its installations.
Supporting governments worldwide
Giljaam van der Meulen, RVO’s project manager for this project, commented: “RVO is challenging the offshore market to come up with innovations to speed up the energy transition in the Netherlands.” In site studies, RVO is constantly looking for innovations and improvements in the process. Fugro is a company that understands this perfectly, so we are happy to work with them in this project.”
Sven Plasman, Fugro’s project director and government relationship manager, stated: “One of Fugro’s key aims is to help governments worldwide with the energy transition. So, we’re extremely proud to be part of this prestigious offshore wind project and support the Dutch government in realizing its ambitions. The development of our geophysical vessels and innovation aimed at providing better quality data is proving its value. We are happy to apply it in this important project and look forward to working with RVO.”
The Doordewind wind energy zone spans between 77 and 102 kilometres off the coast, situated north of the island of Ameland and bordering the German sector of the North Sea. It will be the first wind farm to connect to the Eemshaven, a seaport in the province of Groningen in the north of the Netherlands. The total wind farm area is approximately 580km2 and is planned to contain a total capacity of 4GW divided over two sites of 2GW each.
