XOCEAN Completes Geophysical Survey for Ossian Floating Offshore Wind Farm

Ireland-based XOCEAN has successfully completed the geophysical survey along the 420-kilometer cable route for the proposed 3.6 GW Ossian floating offshore wind farm in Scotland.

The survey, conducted using uncrewed survey vessels (USVs), spanned over 13 months and covered water depths from the shoreline to over 100 meters.

The data collected will be instrumental in supporting Ossian’s engineering and development teams, as well as Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) consultants in identifying feasible routes for the offshore export cables, XOCEAN announced.

Kevin Harnett, CRO of XOCEAN, mentioned that the survey was carried out in multiple phases, with up to six USVs operating in the North Sea.

Throughout the campaign, the project team collaborated with the National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET) to synchronize their efforts and minimize any potential interference, as per the Irish company.

“The completion of the XOCEAN survey is a significant milestone in progressing towards selecting the most viable route for our offshore export cables. The campaign has provided crucial information on seabed characteristics, habitats, and geology along the offshore export cable route, paving the way for our future endeavors,” stated Laurent Domergue, Ossian Engineering Manager.

Ossian Floating Offshore Wind Farm

The Ossian floating offshore wind farm is a joint venture between SSE Renewables, Marubeni, and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP).

In July 2024, the Scottish government received a consent application for the offshore array of the 3.6 GW floating wind project.

Subject to obtaining planning consent, securing a route to market, and making a final investment decision, the wind farm will be delivered. Once operational, Ossian is projected to generate enough renewable energy to power up to six million homes annually.