TGS completes soil survey for Doordewind offshore wind zone

TGS has carried out a three-dimensional Ultra High-Resolution Seismic (3D UHRS) soil survey in the Doordewind Wind Farm Zone in the Netherlands.

Commissioned by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), the 3D UHRS soil survey was conducted in the North Sea for the first time from mid-June to the end of August 2024. According to RVO, the research could be invaluable for the design of future offshore wind farms.

The survey gathered extensive data on the soil conditions across more than 300 square kilometers, which RVO plans to publish in early 2025.

Most measurements went to a depth of 100 meters, which makes the survey as accurate as possible because the first 100 meters are the most important for the foundation of the wind turbines, according to RVO.

The survey also shows where the electricity cables can best be laid.

“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”, said Peter-Paul Lebbink, Coordinator of Soil Studies at RVO.

Recently, RVO contracted Fraunhofer IWES to develop a fully Integrated Ground Model (IGM) for the Doordewind Wind Farm Zone. The German company will perform the work together with UK-based Tetra Tech RPS Energy and Geowynd.

The 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 Eemshaven. 

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

Further measurement campaigns are underway on behalf of RVO. The studies in the Nederwiek and Doordewind Wind Farm Zones have been in full swing for some time now, said RVO. The last ship to conduct these is expected to be ready next month.