UK Researchers Tackle Landslide Risks for Offshore Wind Turbines with New Tool
Researchers at Heriot-Watt University have developed an advanced simulation tool that accurately predicts underwater landslides caused by offshore wind turbines.The new method enables developers to assess seabed stability not only at the design stage but throughout a wind farm’s lifespan, helping to optimize placement and ensure long-term resilience.Underwater landslides - when sections of the seabed suddenly shift - can impact the stability of wind turbines, particularly in areas with soft seabeds and gentle slopes.While engineering structures like monopiles (the foundations of some offshore
Belgian Energy Island in North Sea Starts Taking Shape (Video)
for the Princess Elisabeth Island, the ‘world’s first’ artificial energy island.Caissons are concrete building blocks that form the outline of the future island. In a later phase, the interior will be filled with sand to build high-voltage infrastructure that will connect new offshore wind farms.TM Edison is carrying out the work on behalf of grid operator Elia Transmission Belgium (Elia). In the coming decades, the energy island will become an essential part of Belgium’s electricity supply.The transport and installation of the caissons at sea is a technically complex operation
Van Oord Expands its Trencher Fleet
Dutch offshore installation firm Van Oord has introduced Jet-It as the latest unit to join its trencher fleet, following the completion of a test campaign in the North Sea.Building on the expertise gained from its previous trenchers, Dig-It and Deep Dig-It, Van Oord has developed another trencher dubbed Jet-It.With the addition of the latest unit, Van Oord now operates three trenchers, all designed for the purpose of cable burial.While Dig-It and Deep Dig-It feature mechanical cutting and jetting technology, the Jet-It is equipped with jetting technology only.According to Van Oord, it boasts an
Fugro Cuts More Jobs, Shifts Focus to Different Business Segments
Dutch geological data specialist Fugro it would cut more jobs and shift focus to different business segments after confirming a drop in first-quarter revenue on Thursday, hit by a pause in new U.S. offshore wind projects.The company also cited a highly volatile global market environment.Sales fell 11.1% to 450 million euros ($510.12 million) year-on-year in the first quarter, in line with a earnings warning it issued earlier this month."We expect ongoing impacts of these market uncertainties into the second quarter. Our immediate priority is the continued implementation of measures to safeguard
Equinor: Statement on Halting Empire Wind Project
In accordance with a halt work order issued by the US government, Empire Offshore Wind LLC (Empire) will safely halt the offshore construction in waters of the outer continental shelf for the Empire Wind project.On 16 April, Empire received notice from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), ordering Empire to halt all activities on the outer continental shelf until BOEM has completed its review.Empire is engaging with relevant authorities to clarify this matter and is considering its legal remedies, including appealing the order.The federal lease for Empire Wind was signed with the US Administrat
Kim Heng’s Rebuilt Geotechnical Survey Vessel Sets Sail
Singapore's offshore services firm Kim Heng has held a christening ceremony for the Bridgewater Discovery, a DP2 geotechnical survey vessel, rebuilt in 2024.With the Bridgewater Discovery vessel, Kim Heng has marked another milestone in its expansion into the renewable business sector.The Bridgewater Discovery is a result of the collaboration between Kim Heng and Soiltech Engineering Co Ltd Korea (STE).Together, the companies aim to provide comprehensive offshore geotechnical investigation services, leveraging STE's 26 years of local experience in soil investigation works.“With the
Fugro Cuts Jobs and Scales Back US Operations
Dutch geodata firm Fugro on Tuesday said it started reducing its U.S. workforce and scaling back operations there after warning its sales and earnings would miss earlier forecasts because of volatile markets and lack of new U.S offshore wind projects.The company, which provides geotechnical, survey, subsea and geosciences services, said it has already divested assets and cut more than 100 jobs in the United States because of deteriorating market environment, group CEO Mark Heine told reporters."The shift in the U.S. political landscape has led to a pause in new offshore wind projects. Furthermore
RWE Drops Bubble Curtain to Silence Construction Noise at Sofia Offshore Wind Farm
RWE has deployed a bubble curtain technology in the U.K. for the first time to protect marine life from the construction noise at its Sofia offshore wind farm.RWE has been working with Hydrotechnik Offshore to introduce an innovative underwater noise-abatement technology, known as a bubble curtain, for offshore wind farm construction in the U.K.The deployment at the Sofia offshore wind farm, located 195km off the coast of England, represents a significant step in protecting marine life from underwater noise generated during piling activities.The bubble curtain, already adopted across Europe, reduces
Fugro and Spoor Create AI Bird-Monitoring Solution for Offshore Wind Farms
field staff. Fugro and Spoor’s system overcomes these challenges by using buoy-mounted cameras that capture high-quality video year-round, even in harsh sea conditions. This approach provides a more reliable and cost-effective way to conduct legally required environmental impact assessments for offshore wind farms.The launch of this new bird-monitoring solution was successfully tested at Hywind Tampen offshore wind farm in the Norwegian North Sea
February 2025
