Fugro bring European offshore survey experience to lead the way on America’s first offshore wind farm.
Fugro has commenced a major geotechnical and geophysical survey operation for America’s first offshore wind farm Cape Wind. The wind farm will be situated on Horseshoe Shoal in Nantucket Sound and once operational is predicted to provide three quarters of the Cape and Islands electricity needs.
Cape Wind President Jim Gordon said: “Our geotechnical program this summer on Horseshoe Shoal begins our detailed design engineering and construction phase, and with Fugro’s help will allow us to optimize our project to ensure that Cape Wind will deliver its important clean energy benefits over its design life.”
The offshore program will involve up to 50 scientists, engineers, archeologists and geologists using specialized vessels. Fugro, as the lead Cape Wind contractor for the project, brings to the table an impressive offshore wind site investigation track record, having performed similar work for a majority of the offshore wind farms built in European waters.
When asked how many wind farms Fugro has been involved with, Fugro’s Global Renewable Energy Business Development Manager Tony Hodgson answered: “In Europe we have now studied projects in eleven countries and are beginning to looking at one or two new geographic areas this year. To be honest there are not many wind farm projects we haven’t worked on.”
Mr. Hodgson leads the Fugro Renewable Services group. The group brings together the individual services that Fugro offers to wind farm developers and contractors, allowing Fugro to offer a comprehensive package of services. Mr. Hodgson said: “We are proud to offer life of project services from early feasibility desk top studies all the way through to construction installation support.”
This new program of work for Cape Wind will build upon geophysical and geotechnical work completed in obtaining the Federal permit for America’s first offshore wind farm.
Fugro Vice President Tom McNeilan said: “Cape Wind is undertaking one of the most comprehensive geophysical surveys in the history of the U.S. North Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf for construction engineering. We are excited Fugro is involved with this pioneering project in helping catalyze and build a supply chain for the emerging U.S. offshore wind power industry.”
The first phase of this four-phase geology program commenced on Friday 6 July and will involve continuous offshore presence on the project site. Cape Wind has informed the U.S. Coast Guard of the Project’s presence on Horseshoe Shoal, and a Notice to Mariners was issued on 13 June 2012.