Tetra Tech RPS Energy to support Dutch offshore wind site characterisation
Our Geoscience Consulting team will provide technical expertise to characterise ground conditions at the Doordewind Wind Farm Zone. This will support the Dutch Government with tenders for the wind farm site, which has a planned generating capacity of 4 GW.
The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland, or RVO) has selected Tetra Tech RPS Energy, along with our partners Fraunhofer IWES, Geowynd Limited and Ginger CEBTP, to support site characterisation over a two-year period.
Site surveys, investigation and characterisation are vital steps in offshore wind development, defining ground conditions that could affect engineering and design. They support identification of site suitability for development and are carried out before investment decisions can be made.
Geoscience activities and innovations
We will undertake integrated ground modelling work including geotechnical and geological interpretation, as well as reviewing contractors’ geotechnical site investigation data and methodologies. The information we provide will help those considering bidding for the Doordewind Wind Farm Zone to understand soil conditions that could affect wind turbine foundation design, cost implications and cable route engineering. The resulting Integrated Ground Model (IGM) will be delivered to RVO for issue to potential developers, supporting de-risking and project planning.
This project will also use innovations that are new to the offshore wind market. 3D Ultra High Resolution seismic data will be reprocessed using innovative techniques to provide improved imaging. This will be captured by our partners and analysed and interpreted by Tetra Tech RPS Energy.
Supporting offshore wind in the Netherlands
Our Geoscience Consulting team has previously supported RVO on projects with a combined potential generating capacity of c. 16 GW over the last 9 years. RPS has also provided MetOcean (meteorological and oceanographic) expertise for two RVO offshore wind development sites, the Doordewind Wind Farm Zone and the IJmuiden Ver Wind Farm Zone.
Nicholas Jones, Technical Director – Geoscience Consulting, says, “The high-quality geological interpretation that we provide will support our client, and future offshore wind developers, to make more informed planning decisions. We are delighted to have been selected for this project by RVO, supporting the continued development of the renewables sector in the Netherlands.”
Key contacts