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Energy Renewables 13 July, 2021 1:00 pm   
COMMENTS: Mateusz Gibała

PGE and Ørsted have selected a contractor for geotechnical studies of the seabed

WhatsApp-Image-2019-12-15-at-15.51.295-590×2000 Offshore wind farms. Photo: BiznesAlert.pl

PGE and Ørsted have jointly selected a consortium of Geoquip Marine and MEWO S.A. to perform a geotechnical investigation of the ground conditions. The project work, which has just commenced, is being carried out for the Baltica Offshore Wind Farm to be developed in two phases – Baltica 2 and Baltica 3 with a total capacity of up to 2.5 GW. The results obtained during the preliminary research and investigation will be used to select the most optimal solutions for the location of wind turbines and transformer stations in the offshore investment area.

A geotechnical investigation of the the seabed is one of the key elements of preparation for the construction of an offshore installation. The scope of work includes deep boreholes, test performed to determine the sequence and depth of geological strata (CPT soundings), performing vibrocore samples, as well as laboratory tests conducted offshore and onshore.

Realization of works related to the research of the ground is necessary to obtain the final investment decision and to start the construction of offshore wind farms.

– It should be emphasized that the contractor selected to carry out the studies is a consortium made up of Polish company MEWO S.A. and Swiss company Geoquip Marine. The selection of the consortium including the Polish company confirms the objective of the PGE Group to make Polish companies play an important role in the offshore wind farm construction project in the Baltic Sea – said Monika Morawiecka, President of the Management Board, PGE Baltica.

– We are very pleased to see such a strong partnership established between an international contractor and a strong local player. Such experience will certainly benefit our projects. We are open to similar partnerships in the future to support Polish suppliers and show them that offshore wind energy is a global industry they can explore – added Søren Westergaard Jensen, Senior Director of Development Projects, Ørsted.

Ørsted and a company owned by PGE – PGE Baltica will jointly develop, build and operate the Baltica offshore wind farm, significantly contributing to Poland’s energy transition and providing clean, reliable and affordable energy for 30 years.

The Baltica Offshore Wind Farm will occupy approximately the area of Warsaw in the future. In such a large area, the ground conditions may be very diverse. Therefore, a four-stage investigative approach is necessary. The first stage consists of geophysical reconnaissance, which has already been performed for this project. The second one, which is the subject of the agreement signed with the consortium of Geoquip Marine and MEWO S.A., is the preliminary geotechnical investigation.

By obtaining information on the geological structure of the seabed, it will be possible to perform further engineering analyses and technical designs for foundations, support structures for turbines, transformer stations, and cables. Moreover, interpretation of the results will be the basis for preparing geological-engineering documentation for the construction project. The next two stages of work will be in-depth geotechnical analyses supplementing the created model of soil with information on precise location of infrastructure and allowing to specify their technical designs.

The consortium of Geoquip Marine and MEWO is one of the first contractors selected by the joint venture partners – PGE and Ørsted, each holding a 50% stake in the Baltica Offshore Wind Farm. The project is in line with Ørsted’s plans to have a total of 30 GW of installed capacity in offshore wind energy worldwide by 2030 and with PGE Group’s strategy to have 2.5 GW in the Polish Baltic Sea area by that date.

Geoquip Marine has international experience in performing marine geotechnical investigations. It provides services to energy sector companies, infrastructure developers, governmental and research organizations. Its expertise also includes a comprehensive interpretation of the acquired geotechnical data.

MEWO S.A. is a company operating on the European offshore market and the largest independent company in Poland providing services in the field of environmental, geophysical, and geotechnical surveys and measurements. Its offer in this area includes conducting research and development works and rental of specialist research and measurement equipment. MEWO S.A. provides services and solutions to the offshore energy sectors in the Baltic Sea, the Mediterranean Sea, and the southern part of the North Sea in the area of oil and gas, renewable energy sources, subsea telecommunications, and marine research.

The geotechnical investigations are yet another step in the preparatory stage of construction of the PGE Baltica offshore wind farm, which is being built in two phases – Baltica 2 and Baltica 3. Commissioning of this largest offshore investment in the Polish part of the Baltic Sea, with a total capacity of up to 2.5 GW, is planned by 2030.

Already at the beginning of 2021, the PGE Capital Group completed important project milestones related to the implementation of the Offshore Program: In January 2021, a grid connection agreement was concluded for Baltica 2 Offshore Wind Farm. In April 2021 the Baltica Offshore Wind Farm (Baltica 2 and Baltica 3) received the right to a differential contract. In May 2021, PGE and Ørsted finalized a joint venture agreement for joint offshore projects in Poland.

PGE