Moray West Final Offshore Geotechnical Campaign for Moray West Offshore Wind Farm as Team Grows
10/03/21, 3:16 PM
Moray West, an 860MW offshore wind farm in the outer Moray Firth, has completed the final geotechnical survey campaign to inform detailed design of the wind turbine and offshore substation foundations. Surveys for unexploded ordnance cleared the way for specialist marine survey company Fugro GB Marine Limited to complete the geotechnical survey work using the survey vessel Normand Flower. The survey was supported by Aberdeen-based Vysus Group.
Normand Flower
The survey campaign has completed cone penetration boreholes to provide full coverage of all the foundation locations for the offshore wind farm. The new data will be combined with survey results from 2019 to finalise design of the foundations for each turbine location, as well as the two offshore substations.
The final surveys will inform design work that will, in turn, enable Tier 1 procurement to progress. As the level of detail in the project matures, so the Moray West team has been steadily growing. From a team of 30 at the beginning of 2021 there are circa 10 vacancies currently being filled. The new roles will be based in the UK headquarters of Ocean Winds in Edinburgh. In normal times the office hosts over 140 staff, working across Moray East, Moray West and other projects. First opened in 2010, when EDPR secured Zone 1 in the Moray Firth of the Round 3 leasing, the office has steadily grown and is now a key hub for Ocean Winds, supported by a growing range of external professional services.
Project Director for Moray West, Adam Morrison said:
“The decision to invest in this extensive survey campaign demonstrates the commitment of the sponsors to progress the project. The survey data is a key part of the design process that will ensure we are ready and able to deliver this significant scale offshore wind project in Scottish waters in line with our programme, and make an important contribution towards Net Zero.
I am delighted that the recruitment process is accelerating as we grow the team with fresh new talent to enable project delivery. This is good news for Scottish jobs and demonstrates the positive impact that our offshore wind farms are having in Scotland’s capital city and coastal communities.”
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NOTES TO EDITORS
- 1. Moray West – Project Status & History
Moray Offshore Windfarm (West) Limited, known as Moray West, is a fully consented offshore wind project off the coast of Scotland. The project is expected to enter the next Contract for Difference (CfD) auction that the UK government has confirmed with be run in 2021.
The development of Moray West follows on from the delivery the adjacent Moray East offshore wind farm, which won a CfD in 2017 with a dramatic 50% cost reduction compared to CfD awards in 2015, and is currently in construction phase for 100 x 9.5MW wind turbines.
- 2. Project History:
2010 – Development of Zone 1 the Moray Firth commenced when development rights were won in the UK’s 3rd round of offshore wind licensing. The zone was split into two, to enable Moray East to be developed ahead of Moray West, as there were constraints in the west of the zone. Constraints in the west eased, and development of Moray West commenced in 2016.
2018-19 – Planning consents secured from Scottish Government, Moray Council and Aberdeenshire Council.
- 3. Project ownership:
The Moray West project is being developed by Ocean Winds. Ocean Winds is formed through a partnership between EDPR and ENGIE for the purpose of offshore wind deployment that was signed in January 2020. Ignitis Group has a minor shareholding.
- 4. Project Statistics
Size: Grid connection for 860MW with consent for up to 85 turbines
Location: Moray Firth, Scotland, over 22km from the coastline
- 5. For further information please contact:
Roger McMichael, Stakeholder Manager M: 07717 367 150
E: roger.mcmichael@oceanwinds.com