Major milestone for Muir Mhòr project with completion of geophysical and environmental survey
Wednesday 23 August 2023
The joint venture partners behind the Muir Mhòr Offshore Wind Farm project have hit a major project milestone with the completion of preliminary geophysical and environmental surveys.
With marine survey services provider EGS International mobilising survey work on the EGS Ventus in April 2023, the four-month campaign completed in early August, with all work completed safely and on schedule.
Utilising high-spec marine equipment, the survey has captured vital information about the sea floor and sub-sea environment across an area of 200m2 which will be hugely instrumental to site characterisation, future design and engineering works, as well as the Environmental Impact Assessment process.
Having hit this major project milestone, the project is now well placed to build on the Environmental Impact Assessment scoping reports recently submitted to Marine Scotland Aberdeenshire Council in July 2023, and progress the project design envelope for submission early next year.
David Hinshelwood, Project Director for Muir Mhòr Offshore Wind Farm, said:
“We are delighted to have hit this major project milestone, which will support the delivery of one of the world’s first commercially-viable floating offshore wind farms.
“We are grateful to our partners EGS for completing the surveys safely, on schedule and to a high technical specification. Not only are these preliminary geophysical and environmental surveys essential to ensuring our approach is sensitive to the surrounding natural environment, but they will allow us to confidently progress of Muir Mhòr Offshore Wind Farm project, which will invest significant amounts in the local area and supply chain.”
Having been awarded seabed rights in the E2 plan option area of the January 2022 ScotWind auction, Fred. Olsen Seawind and Vattenfall are bringing forward plans for a floating offshore wind farm off the east coast of Scotland.