Germany’s Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (Bundesamt für Seeschifffahrt und Hydrographie) has issued a tender for a geophysical survey at the N-6 offshore wind area in the German North Sea.
The survey will be carried out in spring/summer 2020 as part of the geological pre-exploration for the N-6.6 and N-6.7 offshore wind areas.
The investigations will include the measurement of approximately 1,300 kilometres using a sediment echo sounder as well as high-resolution single and multi-channel seismics. In addition, the processing of the recorded data, its evaluation and documentation, as well as the determination of suitable locations for the subsequent geotechnical investigations are included. The overall objective is the collection and processing of hydroacoustic/seismic data for the provision to third parties.
The tender will close on 27 February. The work is expected to start on 1 April and the services are to be completed 14 weeks after the end of the respective offshore measurement, at the latest by November 15, 2020.
The geophysical survey is part of the geological preliminary investigation and includes a complete grid-shaped geophysical survey of areas that are intended for the future development of offshore wind projects.
The N-6.6 and N-6.7 areas are located some 100 kilometres northwest of the island Borkum. The N-6.6 area is expected to support wind turbines with a capacity of 630MW, and the area N-6.7 will support a wind farm with a capacity of 270MW.
If deemed suitable, the areas will be tendered in 2024 and put into operation in 2029, BSH said.
The two areas for the preliminary investigation were defined in BSH’s Surface Development Plan 2019. Over the next few years, BSH will commission and partly carry out investigations into the marine environment and the subsoil, wind, waves, and other oceanographic parameters at these sites.
On the basis of the results of the investigations, BSH will determine if the areas are suitable for the construction of offshore wind farms, and pass on the information to Germany’s Federal Network Agency.