Geo-data specialist Fugro has been awarded a contract to perform offshore geophysical and geotechnical site investigations for Australia’s offshore wind project Star of the South (SOTS), located off the coast of Gippsland, south-east Australia.
Partly funded by the Victoria government through the Energy Innovation Fund, Star of the South is in the feasibility phase and has the potential to generate up to 2.2GW of capacity, supply around 20% of Victoria’s energy needs, and power around 1.2 million homes.
SOTS chief executive Charles Rattray said Fugro’s ability to acquire high-quality geophysical and geotechnical data and deliver on an exemplary Health Safety, Security and Environment record, were defining factors in the decision to award the contracts to Fugro.
“Fugro has extensive experience working on offshore renewable energy projects around the world, delivering ground investigations safely and to the highest standard. Knowing what’s under the seabed in this location helps ensure everything we do – from turbine design and placement through to construction methods – is tailored specifically for this location in Bass Strait,” said Rattray.
Fugro APAC regional business line director Shalu Shajahan added: “We are deeply committed to supporting energy transition, climate change adaption and sustainable infrastructure development through our investigations and solutions. We are proud to be part of the Start of the South project supporting the transition to renewable energy.”
Once complete, it is anticipated the Star of the South project will have a significant impact on Victoria’s energy sector, reducing carbon emissions and providing clean energy to the local community.