SouthCoast Wind to conduct geotechnical survey in lease area

SouthCoast Wind continues to make progress in developing its offshore lease area with the launch of a geotechnical site survey this month and a geophysical site investigation later this spring. The project’s wind turbines, inter-array cables, and offshore electric substation/s will be located in the lease area.

Survey work will help study seabed and soil conditions to advance the project’s engineering and determine the best project design and environmental measures. Results will help SouthCoast Wind safely develop the site’s offshore wind potential of 2400MW, or enough to power over a million homes. Environmental monitors will be onboard to observe safety procedures and marine mammal activity and protection.

The geotechnical survey work will be conducted within SouthCoast Wind’s lease area (OCS-A 0521), located in the Atlantic Coast Outer Continental Shelf from mid-April to mid-July 2023

The following notices have been issued for the geotechnical survey: a Local Notice to Mariners to the US Coast Guard and a Notice to Fleet Command to the US Navy. SouthCoast Wind is also working closely with local fisheries over the duration of the survey work to avoid any disruptions to their operations. Environmental monitors will be participating during the survey work to watch for the presence of marine mammals and other aquatic life, and to implement protective mitigation measures where needed.

Geotechnical Survey Scope

The survey work will study seabed conditions in the wind lease area and provide details on the soil conditions for the wind turbine and offshore substation platform foundations. Borehole samples will be collected utilizing technology that helps to minimize disturbances to the seabed.

“Kicking off this year’s survey work is an important activity for our project,” said Jennifer Flood, Permitting Director, SouthCoast Wind. “The site-specific technical data collected will enable us to advance engineering and design solutions for the project while minimizing environmental effects within the lease area.”

SouthCoast Wind states that safety is the first priority for the project and when conducting survey work their vessels and all project staff must comply with rigorous Health, Safety and Environment standards as documented in their Health and Safety Plan prepared for this survey.

SouthCoast Wind has been conducting surveys in the wind lease area since 2019 and this work represents the project’s fourth geotechnical campaign. Previous surveys have found favorable conditions for operating safely and sustainably in the lease area.

Fugro Survey Vessels

Fugro, a global leader in geo-data for energy and infrastructure industries, is conducting the geotechnical survey utilizing the highly sophisticated Fugro Explorer vessel.

SouthCoast Wind, a 50/50 joint venture between Shell New Energies US LLC and Ocean Winds North America, is developing an offshore wind lease area with the potential to supply 2,400 megawatts of low-cost clean energy to electricity customers in New England.

For more information on the survey and related work activity, please visit www.southcoastwind.com/Fishermen