Fraunhofer IWES-Led Team to Develop Integrated Ground Model for Dutch Doordewind Wind Farm Zone

September 30, 2024, by Adrijana Buljan

The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) has contracted Fraunhofer IWES to develop a fully Integrated Ground Model (IGM) for the Doordewind Wind Farm Zone (DDWWFZ). The German company will perform the work together with UK-based Tetra Tech RPS Energy and Geowynd.

The contract, which will run for approximately two years, includes the planning of upcoming offshore geotechnical site investigations in DDWWFZ, the development of a full IGM for the entire investigation area and the preparation of a comprehensive Geotechnical Interpretative Report (GIR).

The project aims to prepare, interpret and integrate marine exploration data to enable potential investors to assess the cable, layout and foundation conditions at the Doordewind offshore wind zone and assist their preparation and submission of bids for project development sites within the zone.

Fraunhofer IWES says that, together with its partners, it included several innovative data analysis methods that are being integrated into the project in the bid for the IGM tender launched by RVO.

These comprise innovative reprocessing of the geophysical 2D and 3D data sets, which addresses improved imaging and significantly reduces the risks involved in planning the layout of the wind farm zone, according to Fraunhofer IWES. Additionally, methods of transfer learning are used to make existing data and information from adjacent offshore planning areas usable for the further development of DDWWFZ, enhancing the data verification process.

“I’m expecting a good collaboration with Fraunhofer IWES during this project and as the Tender did contain an innovative aspect, I’m looking forward to the implementation of the proposed innovations to support the derisking of offshore wind development within the area”, said Michel Vrolijk, project manager at RVO.

The Doordewind zone is part of the Dutch Government’s Offshore Wind Energy Roadmap 2030, which aims to accelerate the development of offshore wind in the Netherlands.

The wind farm zone is located approximately 77 kilometres off the north coast of the Netherlands and will be the first wind farm to connect to Eemshaven. The total wind farm area is about 580 square kilometres and is planned to contain a total capacity of 4 GW divided over two sites of 2 GW each.

The 2 GW Doordewind I and the 2 GW Doordewind II are planned to be put up for auction in 2027, with the commissioning expected in 2031.