SCOTWIND-WINNING MUIR MHÒR PROJECT APPOINTS ESTABLISHED SURVEY SERVICES PROVIDER EGS INTERNATIONAL

Multi-million pound contract with EGS to support site characterisation and project’s ambition to meet 2030 floating wind targets  

The ScotWind-winning joint venture partners behind the Muir Mhòr Offshore Wind Farm project have appointed marine survey services provider EGS to provide geophysical and environmental site investigations in support of one of the world’s first commercially viable floating offshore wind farms. 

Having been awarded seabed rights in the E2 plan option area of the January 2022 ScotWind auction, Fred. Olsen Seawind and Vattenfall are bringing forward plans for a floating offshore wind farm off the east coast of Scotland.

EGS will survey a wind farm area equating to approximately 200 km2 in addition to an offshore export cable corridor area of 100 km2 once the point of landfall has been identified. Preliminary surveys will commence in April 2023 and run into the summer months, with key stakeholder engagement already underway to ensure the survey is carried out safely and efficiently. 

Combining decades of industry experience, the Muir Mhòr Offshore Wind Farm project is being developed on an accelerated programme in order to support the UK Government’s target of generating 5GW from floating offshore wind by 2030. The outcomes from EGS’s survey works will inform the project’s geotechnical approach, and will support an accelerated timetable for the consent applications. 

The multi-million pound contracting of the UK-headquartered EGS International comes after it was announced last year that the project has already awarded over £3 million in development contracts with Scottish and UK-based suppliers. 

David Hinshelwood, Project Director for Muir Mhòr Offshore Wind Farm, said:

“We are delighted to have appointed EGS to the Muir Mhòr consulting team. To get these essential surveys underway in a matter of weeks will be fantastic progress for the project. 

“With over four decades of experience in the survey market, EGS have an extensive track record in supporting offshore renewables developments. Their geophysical and environmental work will be hugely instrumental to site characterisation, future design and engineering works, as well as the Environmental Impact Assessment process. 

“I look forward to working with EGS to progress the Muir Mhòr floating offshore project, which will lead the energy transition and secure Scotland’s energy future whilst delivering tangible benefits for the local and national economy. “

Deborah Jenkins, Managing Director at EGS International, said:

“We are very pleased to have been selected by the Muir Mhòr Offshore Wind Farm team for this project and are excited to be working off the north east coast of Scotland this spring. We look forward to using our expertise to contribute to the early stages of the planning and development of this windfarm, focusing on safe operations and producing high-quality results for our client. We are looking forward to the opportunity of working with the Muir Mhòr team and supporting the windfarm project through its full lifecycle.”