Fugro will deploy their specialist geotechnical vessel.
Located offshore Brataualung and Tatungalung territories in Gippsland, in the state of Victoria, the 1GW project is being developed by Parkwind, part of JERA Nex.
The project is set to play a crucial role in Australia’s offshore wind energy initiatives, supporting the country’s transition to clean energy.
It is anticipated to begin commercial operations in 2032 and will have a lifespan of 30 years.
Parkwind Australia country head Anil Chanana stated: “We are excited to get to the next stage of site characterisation on our Blue Mackerel flagship project in Australia and are pleased that Fugro will be collaborating with us to undertake this important geotechnical survey.
“This is a strategic project for Parkwind in Australia, and we would play a crucial role in helping Victoria achieve its legislated 9GW of offshore wind capacity target in time.”
The wind farm will generate enough renewable energy to power 500,000 Victorian homes and will significantly contribute to Australia’s goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2050.
The contract award follows Fugro’s successful completion of the geotechnical site investigation for the 2.2GW Star of the South offshore wind project, also located in Victoria.
Fugro marine site characterisation Asia Pacific regional director Shalu Shajahan stated: “We are pleased to play a crucial role in supporting the Blue Mackerel offshore wind farm in this landmark project.
“We are confident that our advanced geotechnical expertise will deliver high-quality Geo-data that will be integral to the success of this project, and our commitment to delivering sustainable energy solutions and the further development of Australia’s emerging offshore wind energy.”
Fugro will deploy its Fugro Mariner geotechnical vessel to gather seabed soil samples, which will then be examined at a Fugro laboratory.
The findings will help Parkwind enhance the structural integrity of its offshore wind farm project and reduce construction risks, adhering to the most recent sustainability standards.
In October 2024, Fugro won a contract to undertake site investigations for the Rhein-Main-Link underground cable project, which will link offshore wind farms in the North Sea with the mainland.
