Fugro has been awarded a seven-year framework agreement with EirGrid, Ireland’s state-owned electricity transmission operator, to deliver a full suite of geodata surveys for the ‘Powering Up Offshore – South Coast’ project.
This initiative will develop offshore electricity substations and export cable routes to connect future wind farms along Ireland’s south coast to the Irish national grid. Fugro's geodata insights will be key for selecting optimal routes and engineering designs, reducing project risks and promoting safe, efficient, and environmentally responsible development.
Under the framework, Fugro will provide desktop studies, geophysical, environmental, and geotechnical surveys. These investigations will result in a fully integrated ground model, giving EirGrid a detailed understanding of subsurface conditions for installing transmission infrastructure and protecting Ireland's marine ecosystem. Operations are set to begin in July 2025, starting with the geophysical and environmental surveys.
All geodata will be delivered through Fugro’s VirGeo®, a cloud-based geodata platform, offering secure, real-time access to data and project insights enhancing collaboration across stakeholders.
John ten Hoope, Fugro’s Regional Business Line Director for Marine Site Characterisation Europe and Africa, commented: “We’re proud to support EirGrid in delivering critical infrastructure for Ireland’s offshore energy future. By providing end-to-end geodata solutions delivered efficiently through our advanced technologies and local collaborations, we are setting the foundation for safe, sustainable, and accelerated offshore wind development along the south coast.”
The project area is complex, spanning four distinct geographical zones: onshore, intertidal, nearshore, and offshore. To conduct operations in these areas, Fugro will deploy specialised offshore vessels, including the Fugro Seeker and Kommander Iona, as well as jack-up barges for shallow water activities. In support of the local economy, the company is also working closely with Irish-based suppliers to deliver key services, such as metocean data collection and aerial drone surveys, that enhance and complement its data insights.
This project directly supports the Irish Government's climate action plan, which targets expanding Ireland's renewable energy capacity to 80%, including at least 5 GW of offshore wind energy. Robust grid connections such as those developed under this framework are critical to integrating offshore wind into the national energy system.
For more news and technical articles from the global renewable industry, read the latest issue of Energy Global magazine.
Energy Global's Summer 2025 issue
Dive into the latest renewable energy insights in the Summer issue of Energy Global, out now! This edition features a guest comment from Change Rebellion on the role real change management can play in the global energy sector before a regional report, which looks at energy trends and transformations across the Americas. Other key topics are also explored, including offshore support vessels, floating wind, weather analysis, and battery storage. Contributors include Ørsted, CRC Evans, Miros, Solcast, and more, so don’t miss out!