The Elwind offshore wind project has launched a tender seeking geophysical survey services.
Elwind is a joint Estonian-Latvian state-run cross-border offshore wind project located in the Baltic Sea and will have a capacity of at least 1GW.
The objective of the survey is to enhance the understanding of the geological characteristics of the offshore wind farm areas by collecting and analysing geophysical data and developing a ground model to determine the design and installation requirements for the project.
The geophysical survey will identify all seabed features, including natural objects such as boulders and other objects such as wrecks, debris, existing cables, pipelines, and unexploded ordnances.
The seismic data will be used to identify potential shallow geohazards that could impact the safe placement of wind turbines in the survey area, and to describe the key horizons of the geological formation of the sites.
The geophysical data will be used to develop a preliminary ground model, which will be provided together with the recommendations for the geotechnical programme to the separately procured geotechnical survey contractor, who will use it to conduct the geotechnical sampling and testing programme.
The results of the geotechnical programme, combined with the geophysical data, will be used to create an integrated ground model. This will serve as the basis for the design of offshore foundations, structures, and cable burial, supporting the safe and efficient installation of the offshore wind farm.
Offshore geophysical works are to be completed this year and the tender submission date is 27 June.