Fugro, a leading company in offshore wind measurement campaigns, has been selected by Ørsted A/S for a 12-month project involving floating LiDAR technology. The project will take place at the Gippsland offshore wind farms located off the south coast of Victoria, Australia.
The SEAWATCH® Wind Lidar Buoy, an advanced technology developed by Fugro, will be used to collect essential data on wind, wave, current, and meteorological conditions at the offshore wind farm site. This data will play a crucial role in determining the feasibility and viability of Ørsted’s wind farms in the region. Real-time metocean data will be continuously transmitted to provide early insights into the site conditions, with monthly reports to follow.
One of the key advantages of the SEAWATCH Wind Lidar Buoy is its quick, safe, and easy deployment, allowing for high-accuracy measurements of wind speed and direction up to 300 meters above sea level. This technology has received a Stage 3 rating in line with the Carbon Trust roadmap, certifying its reliability and suitability for providing crucial wind speed data for offshore wind farm development and investment decisions.
Albert Quan, Ørsted’s Head of Market Development for Australia, expressed his excitement about the project, emphasizing the importance of understanding metocean conditions to design a world-class offshore wind project that maximizes green energy production and value for Victoria. Similarly, Simon Foster, Service Line Manager at Fugro, highlighted the company’s commitment to contributing valuable insights to the project and supporting Ørsted’s vision of a world powered by green energy.
This collaboration between Fugro and Ørsted marks a significant milestone in the development of offshore wind energy in Australia. By leveraging Fugro’s expertise in collecting metocean data and Ørsted’s leadership in renewable energy, the project aims to pave the way for sustainable energy production in the region.
For more updates and in-depth articles on the global renewable energy industry, readers can access the latest issue of Energy Global magazine. The Autumn 2024 edition features a range of insightful content, including a guest comment on accelerating the energy transition, a regional report on battery energy storage in Australia, and discussions on offshore wind technologies, digitalization, and wind turbine components.
In conclusion, the partnership between Fugro and Ørsted underscores the ongoing efforts to advance renewable energy solutions and create a cleaner, more sustainable future for Australia and beyond. By harnessing innovative technologies and industry expertise, this project sets a positive example for the transition towards greener energy sources worldwide.