RWE’s 1400MW Sofia Offshore Wind Farm has contracted Norwegian technology company Vissim to deliver an advanced marine management and communication system.
Under the contract, Vissim will provide its marine optimisation and planning software for far-shore offshore wind farms, and a comprehensive communication, sensor and networking package.
The solution includes Software as a Service (SaaS) certification and induction management, permit to work and daily progress reporting.
This is fully integrated with Vissim’s real-time decision support framework, including vessel, aircraft and automated personnel tracking, working weather windows and warning-management options.
Sofia’s deputy general site manager (Offshore) Ben Simpson said: “Everything about Sofia is bigger, further from shore and more technically challenging than our previous wind farms.
“We need robust and proven marine management and communication systems, but we also need our team to work alongside software innovators to identify and deliver workflow efficiencies – and Vissim has solid experience in both these areas.”
Alongside its VTMS5 and OSEM software suite, Vissim will deploy onshore, vessel-based and fully autonomous foundation-based sensor and communication hubs, networked to both onshore and vessel-based control rooms.
Vissim’s contract is aligned with the offshore construction period of the Sofia project, which will feature 100 SG 14-222 DD wind turbines and is scheduled to be fully commissioned in 2026.