Site investigation to begin for Aust offshore wind farm

Multinational geodata company Fugro has been awarded a contract to perform an offshore geotechnical site investigation for Australia’s offshore wind project Star of the South (SOTS), located off the coast of Gippsland south-east of Australia.

Partly funded by the Victorian Government through the Energy Innovation Fund, Star of the South is currently in the feasibility phase and has the potential to generate up to 2.2 GW of new capacity, supply around 20% of Victoria’s energy needs and power around 1.2 million homes across the state.

Star of the South Chief Executive Officer 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 SOTS decision to award both the geophysical and geotechnical contracts to Fugro.

“Fugro have 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,” Rattray said.

Fugro APAC Regional Business Line Director Shalu Shajahan said the Fugro team is proud to collect critical data for the project.

“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,” Shajahan said.

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.

Image caption: The Fugro mariner vessel that will be used for the investigation.