TotalEnergies launches geotechnical surveys for the Jammerland Bugt wind farm

Seabed exploration begins in Jammerland Bay to validate the placement of sixteen turbines and the cable corridor, the first tangible step before construction of the project led by TotalEnergies and European Energy.

Share:

TotalEnergies SE and European Energy A/S began geotechnical surveys of the Jammerland Bugt offshore wind farm, located in Danish waters of the Baltic Sea, on 16 June. These drillings, carried out with a mobile jack-up platform, will characterise the seabed composition at the planned sites for sixteen turbines and the export cable corridor. The data will complete the three-dimensional surveys finished in the spring and will be used to size the foundations, reduce technical uncertainties and optimise costs. Work is scheduled to continue until the end of July before the vessel is transferred to the neighbouring Lillebælt Syd project.

Objectives of the geotechnical surveys

The surveys involve coring to depths of several dozen metres, measuring the mechanical resistance of sediments and checking for possible gas pockets. Samples will be analysed in a laboratory to establish stratigraphic profiles essential for calculating monopile loads and laying high-voltage cables. According to specifications published by TotalEnergies, each drilling point will then be equipped with instruments to monitor stress evolution during the construction phase. The results will feed the digital design model that the consortium plans to freeze by year-end.

“The geotechnical surveys give us detailed knowledge of the seabed conditions and are therefore a decisive step in sizing the wind farm,” said Zhanar Dreisig, Asset Manager for TotalEnergies Denmark, quoted by TotalEnergies on 16 June. She noted that the data will enable precise calibration of pile penetration and limit corrective work. The campaign is conducted by Danish company GEO under an engineering, procurement and construction contract valued at 280mn DKK ($40mn). Operations are covered by continuous weather monitoring to meet the seasonal window and contain logistics spending.

Operational schedule and logistics

Once the sequence at Jammerland Bugt is completed, the jack-up platform will be mobilised to the Lillebælt Syd site, 160 kilometres away, for a similar programme. This rotation will allow maritime resources to be pooled and the schedule to be secured, European Energy said. The contract also provides for a support vessel ensuring daily transfer of crews and cores to the port of Kalundborg for processing and archiving. The operator aims to deliver the interpretation report before September to launch the tender procedure for steel foundations.

“The start of drilling marks the shift from planning to physical progress at sea; these investigations ensure a technically robust design adapted to local conditions,” stated Andreas Karhula Lauridsen, Vice-President and Head of Offshore Wind at European Energy, quoted by European Energy on 16 June. He recalled that the Jammerland Bugt site has an average water depth of eleven metres, a factor likely to reduce structural costs. The company estimates that commercial operation could begin in 2028 if engineering milestones are met. No final investment decision has yet been announced.

Next steps and regulatory framework

Additional onshore and offshore campaigns are scheduled from August to determine the final route of export cables to the national grid connection point. Environmental studies conducted by TotalEnergies and European Energy have received approval from the Danish Energy Agency, a prerequisite for construction permits. The consortium states that it will implement continuous acoustic and biological monitoring during works to comply with regulations. The Agency indicated that the authorisation process would remain open to public comments until October.

German company NeXtWind signs historic €1.4 billion debt financing to accelerate expansion and modernisation of its onshore wind farms and reach a total capacity of 3 GW by 2028.
Energy company TGS has won a major high-resolution geophysical imaging contract for offshore wind site characterization in Norway, strengthening its position in this rapidly growing market.
Iberdrola Australia secures crucial approval from Australian authorities to begin metocean studies for its 3GW Aurora Green offshore project off the coast of Victoria, marking a decisive stage in its development.
ENGIE begins full operation of the Red Sea Wind Energy wind farm in Egypt, increasing its capacity to 650 MW, four months ahead of schedule, now powering over one million homes in the region.
Tokyo Gas, through TOWII Renewables, a joint venture with EWII, purchases two onshore wind projects developed by Finnish company Puhuri, totalling 74.4 MW, marking its expansion beyond the Danish market.
The European Investment Bank grants EWE AG historic €450mn financing for the installation of 2,600 km of underground power lines and the upgrade of over 1,100 substations in Lower Saxony.
Japan’s Ministry of Industry and Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy launch a strategic partnership to develop local offshore wind supply chains and strengthen the country's industrial competitiveness in this energy sector.
Energiekontor AG confirms financial close for the Nartum wind farm, adding 23 megawatts to its owned portfolio and starting the construction phase in the Rotenburg district, Lower Saxony.
Airloom Energy begins construction of a pilot site in Wyoming to test an innovative turbine aimed at enhancing American energy security in the face of anticipated growth in electricity demand.
ACCIONA Energía transfers the San Juan de Marcona wind farm to Luz del Sur S.A.A., a major player in Peru's energy sector, for up to USD 253 million, pending necessary regulatory approvals.
German operator Encavis AG strengthens its portfolio by acquiring two wind farms in Lower Saxony and Saxony, totalling 59 MW, in a transaction with Energiequelle GmbH, thereby expanding its renewable energy assets.
Ocergy officially launches an industrial project aiming to install by 2028 a new-generation floating wind turbine of over 15 MW, in partnership with EnBW, Kyuden Mirai, and TEPCO Renewable Power.
France officially commissions its first floating wind farm, consisting of three turbines with a combined capacity of 25 megawatts, introducing strategic technology in the Mediterranean, vital for national energy goals.
Inaugurated on 20 June, the five-turbine plant of wpd onshore France feeds 18 MW into the grid and unlocks new tax revenue for four Côtes-d’Armor municipalities.
Statkraft refocuses investments on flexible Nordic hydropower and reduces commitments in offshore wind and hydrogen to lower operating costs, amid an uncertain economic environment and pressured profitability.
Suzlon Group receives third consecutive order from AMPIN Energy Transition to supply 170.1 MW of wind turbines for a project in India's Andhra Pradesh state, strengthening their strategic industrial partnership.
The Muir Mhòr floating wind project secures Aberdeenshire's onshore consent, paving the way for the potential production of one gigawatt of electricity, enough to power up to 1.2 million British homes by the early 2030s.
Iberdrola España and Renfe conclude a virtual power purchase agreement for 370 GWh per year for ten years, strengthening the use of renewable energy in Spanish railway transport.
TotalEnergies has been awarded a concession in the North Sea enabling the development of a 1GW offshore wind project, reinforcing its strategic presence in Germany.
With an annual increase of 14%, global offshore wind capacity now reaches 85.2 gigawatts, driven mainly by China, the United Kingdom, and Germany, while another 27.3 gigawatts are currently under construction.