Fugro has recently announced a significant milestone with the signing of a seven-year framework agreement with EirGrid, Ireland’s leading electricity transmission operator. The agreement is set to support the ‘Powering Up Offshore – South Coast’ project, aimed at developing offshore electricity substations and export cable routes to connect upcoming wind farms along Ireland’s south coast to the national grid.

As part of the framework agreement, Fugro will be responsible for delivering a comprehensive suite of geo-data surveys, including desktop studies, geophysical, environmental, and geotechnical surveys. These surveys will play a crucial role in providing EirGrid with a detailed understanding of subsurface conditions for the installation of transmission infrastructure and the protection of Ireland’s marine ecosystem.

The project is scheduled to kick off in July 2025, with initial operations focusing on geophysical and environmental surveys. All geo-data collected will be accessible through Fugro’s VirGeo platform, a cloud-based solution offering real-time data access and project insights to facilitate collaboration among stakeholders.

Given the complexity of the project area, which spans onshore, intertidal, nearshore, and offshore zones, Fugro will utilize specialized offshore vessels such as the Fugro Seeker and Kommander Iona, as well as jack-up barges for shallow water activities. The company is also actively engaging with local Irish suppliers to provide essential services like metocean data collection and aerial drone surveys to enhance the project’s data insights.

This collaboration aligns with the Irish Government’s climate action plan, which aims to increase the country’s renewable energy capacity to 80%, including a target of at least 5 GW of offshore wind energy. The development of robust grid connections, as facilitated by this framework agreement, is crucial for integrating offshore wind power into the national energy system.

John ten Hoope, Fugro’s Regional Business Line Director for Marine Site Characterisation Europe and Africa, expressed the company’s commitment to supporting EirGrid in building essential infrastructure for Ireland’s offshore energy future. By leveraging advanced technologies and local partnerships, Fugro aims to lay the groundwork for safe, sustainable, and accelerated offshore wind development along the south coast.