RWE and Masdar (Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company) have appointed Fugro to undertake detailed geotechnical surveys on the site of the Dogger Bank South (DBS) West offshore wind farm in the UK.
DBS DBS comprises two separate sites, DBS East and DBS West located on Dogger Bank, a shallow area of the North Sea over 100km off the North East coast of England.
Both DBS project developments are being led by RWE who will deliver project development, construction, and operations on behalf of the partners RWE (51%) and Masdar (49%).
“The geotechnical data from these site investigations will give our engineers a detailed and accurate picture of the individual ground conditions at sites of the foundations and associated offshore infrastructure,” said Colin McAllister, Development Project Manager, DBS offshore wind farms.
“We already have high-level data about the seabed conditions from reconnaissance surveys conducted in 2022. With the level of detail captured from the new surveys, however, we can design the most effective foundations for each turbine and platform in the project. We expect similar detailed surveys to take place at DBS East in the future.”
The Fugro Quest, Fugro Voyager and Normand Mermaid vessels will survey the ground conditions below seabed from May to October 2024 at the location of each proposed turbine and platform foundation, and associated seabed infrastructure.
“We are excited to continue working with RWE on this prestigious project,” commented John ten Hoope, Fugro’s Regional Director Marine Site Characterisation.
“Our successful combination of innovation technology and expert project teams will safely deliver timely high-quality data and insights crucial to optimising the design of DBS West offshore wind farm. The fieldwork, which comprises seabed cone penetration tests, and vibrocores from the Normand Mermaid and geotechnical boreholes from the Fugro Quest and Fugro Voyager, will start in May 2024. The subsequent extensive laboratory testing will take place in Fugro’s laboratories in the UK.”
RWE entered into Agreements for Lease for the two DBS projects with The Crown Estate in January 2023, with both projects potentially totalling 3 GW.
RWE and Masdar aim to submit applications for Development Consent Orders in Q2 2024. If successful, RWE and Masdar will then look to secure Contracts for Difference (CfD), followed by financing, construction and commissioning by 2031.
#cleanenergy
Professor, School of Ocean and Civil Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Focusing on developing practical cost-effective next generation platform & mooring concepts and port solutions for floating offshore wind
1moMoving forward!