Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) has awarded Fraunhofer IWES, together with its partner companies Tetra Tech RPS Energy Limited and Geowynd Limited, a contract to further develop the 565 km² Doordewind Wind Farm Zone (DDWWFZ).
The contract, lasting ap-proximately two years includes the planning of upcoming offshore geotechnical site investigations in DDWWFZ, the development of a fully Integrated Ground model (IGM) for the entire Investigation Area and the preparation of a comprehensive Geotechnical Interpretative Report (GIR).
The aim of the project is to prepare, interpret and integrate marine exploration data in order to enable potential investors to assess the cable, layout and foundation conditions within the DDWWFZ and assist their preparation and submission of bids within the Wind Farm Zone. DDWWFZ is located approximately 77 km off the north coast of the Netherlands and is divided into two Wind Farm Sites. A tender to develop DDWWFS I is expected to open in Q1-Q2 2027.
The development of Investigation Areas of offshore wind farm sites requires the processing and integration of all available data and exploration results from a series of exploration campaigns over the respective areas. The integration of exploration data from geophysical and geotechnical surveys represents a development task that is specially commissioned and requires specific expertise and experience in handling and processing marine data. To cover the broad scope of tasks, Fraunhofer IWES will work closely with RPS and Geowynd.
Integrated Ground Model (IGM)
To develop a fully integrated ground model (IGM), all subsoil exploration data, whether geophysical or geotechnical in nature (from three geophysical and two geotechnical campaigns at DDWWFZ), are harmonized, reprocessed, reinterpreted, integrated and incorporated in an IGM. Predicted geotechnical parameters can then be generated across the area, which enable flexible planning of wind farm layouts, and can be used in the conceptual and detailed technical design of offshore wind turbine foundations.
In parallel, a geotechnical laboratory testing program will be designed to perform laboratory tests on the marine soil samples. The results of the geotechnical laboratory tests will be evaluated, interpreted and integrated into the IGM and the parameterization process of the GIR. Both reports will be issued to RVO, which will publish these documents in the public domain for the use of future investors.
Innovative approaches from Fraunhofer IWES
Fraunhofer IWES and its partners included in the successful bid a number of innovative methods, that are being integrated into the project, representing innovations in data analysis new to the market. These techniques comprise innovative reprocessing of the geophysical 2D and 3D data sets, which addresses improved imaging. This should significantly reduce the risks involved in planning the layout of the Wind Farm Zone.
Additionally, methods of transfer learning from Fraunhofer IWES are used to make existing data and information from adjacent offshore planning areas (where comparable geological conditions prevail) usable for the further development of DDWWFZ, enhancing the data verification process. Thus, planning and development steps can be placed on a broader basis and made more reliable, while at the same time being accelerated due to the availability of additional prior data.
Michel Vrolijk, project manager at RVO, says: “I want to congratulate Fraunhofer IWES and its partners on the win of the Tender to develop an integrated Ground Model for the Doordewind Investigation Area. I’m expecting a good collaboration with Fraunhofer IWES during this project and as the Tender did contain an innovative aspect, I’m looking forward to the implementation of the proposed innovations to support the derisking of offshore wind development within the area.”
Jan Hebig, group leader in the Subsurface Investigation department at Fraunhofer IWES, says: “We are very pleased that the capabilities and experience of our team and those of our British partners were able to convince RVO to award the project to Fraunhofer IWES and Partners. We are very much looking forward to working with RVO and the opportunity to once again actively and innovatively contribute to the further expansion of offshore wind power in Europe.” Source: Fraunhofer IWES Map: © RVO
