Groundbreaking soil research helps design new offshore wind farms
Commissioned by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), a large three-dimensional Ultra High Resolution Seismic (3D UHRS) soil survey was conducted in the North Sea for the first time from mid-June to the end of August 2024. This groundbreaking research could be invaluable for the design of future offshore wind farms. RVO will publish the results of the research at the beginning of 2025.
Research up to 100 metres deep
TGS carried out the 3D UHRS soil survey in the Doordewind Wind Farm Zone. The survey collected a great deal of information about the soil conditions over an area of over 300 km2. Most measurements in this survey went to a depth of 100 metres. This makes the survey as accurate as possible, because the first 100 metres are the most important for the foundation of wind turbines. This survey also shows where the electricity cables can best be laid.
This survey is an improvement compared to the 2D surveys RVO has commissioned in previous wind farm zones. A 3D survey takes a measurement of the soil profile every few metres. In a 2D measurement, these measurements are approximately 70 metres apart.
Huge technical challenge
A study like this has never been done before on such a large surface. That is why it was a huge technical challenge. "RVO is happy to cooperate as a pioneer in the field of location studies at sea. We coordinate the studies and ensure that, with innovations like this, wind farm developers have an increasingly better package of data. In this way, RVO reduces uncertainties for developers in the design and construction of wind farms," says Peter-Paul Lebbink, coordinator of soil studies at RVO.
The first fully developed results of this study will be published on the website offshorewind.rvo.nl in early 2025.
Other offshore research also in full swing
In addition to this innovative research, more 'measurement campaigns' are being conducted on behalf of RVO. The studies in the Nederwiek and Doordewind Wind Farm Zones have been in full swing for some time now. The last ship to conduct these is expected to be ready in November. These studies are also challenging due to the technical difficulty and the number of ships undertaking work simultaneously. For example, at the busiest time, 4 ships were working simultaneously in the Doordewind area, including one commissioned by grid operator TenneT.
RVO is expected to start issuing permits for the Nederwiek Wind Farm Zone at the end of 2025. For the Doordewind Wind Farm Zone, this is expected to happen in 2027.
RVO coordinates
RVO took the lead in coordinating the studies. With minimal delay, almost all studies in four different Wind Farm Zones in the North Sea are now ready. RVO ensures the data developers need is available in time for the next permit rounds under the 21GW Offshore Wind Energy Roadmap.
By coordinating the studies with TenneT and exchanging the results, the final results are better. In this way, we prevent 'duplicate' research.
- Ministry of Climate Policy and Green Growth
