Fugro starts massive studies for Ireland's offshore wind farms!

Fugro starts massive studies for Ireland's offshore wind farms!

The offshore wind sector in Ireland increasingly picks up speed, not least due to the new seven-year framework contract, which Fugro has concluded with Eirgrid. Eirgrid, the state operator of electricity transmission in Ireland, strives to create a stable and reliable power grid in order to achieve the goals of the Irish government with regard to renewable energies. The contract has a total volume of 300 million euros and aims to carry out comprehensive geo-data examinations for the 'Powering Up Offshore-South Coast' project. This not only promotes the future connection of offshore wind farms to the national power grid, but also an important step towards climate protection.

fugro will carry out a large number of extensive studies, including geophysical, environmental and geotechnical studies. This work is intended to create an integrated floor model and enable Eirgrid to understand the underground conditions in detail. The project area comprises four geographical zones that range from Onshore to Offshore. The first work begins in July 2025 with the geophysical and environmental studies that are supported by innovative solutions such as the cloud-based geo-data platform Virgeo from FUGRO.

The big plans of the Eirgrid

The Irish government is aiming to cover around 80 percent of its energy needs by renewable sources by 2030 and to generate at least 5 GW offshore wind energy. In order for this to succeed, the construction of offshore electricity conversions and export cable routes is required that will in future connect wind farms to the Irish power grid. Eirgrid is the key player in this transformation and will finally also take over the offshore network systems for the phase-one wind farms. Investments in new infrastructures are planned to connect wind power to the existing network, especially in the areas around Waterford and Wexford.

Furthermore, Eirgrid will develop a crucial document with the 'South Coast Designated Marine Area Plan' (SC-DMAP) that will identify the planned locations for offshore wind farms. The public has the opportunity to actively participate in the form of consultations. The first round for the offshore wind auctions (Oress 2.1) is already in the starting blocks and will be opened this year.

supportive measures and cooperation

fugro will not only fall back on your own resources when implementing the project, but also work closely with local Irish providers to award services such as metocean data collection and air drone examinations. However, the exact locations for offshore conversions and their connections to the national network still have to be determined. The Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) will play an important role in carrying out a public consultation via the proposed wind farm locations.

As Eirgrid explains on its platform, the company will also carry out extensive geophysical, geotechnical and environmental studies in the Maritime Area (Tonn Nua) as part of the SC-DMAP. It is worth noting that some of the studies will take place on private land and on public beaches, which requires close communication with municipalities and property owners.

For more information about the framework contract between Fugro and Eirgro, visit Marine Technology News. Analyzes on offshore wind projects and the current developments can also be found on [Offshore Wind Biz] (https://www.offshorewind.biz/2024/15/irish-tso-awards-eur-300-million-in-survey-contracts-for-wind-areast EIRGRID.