SSE has appointed Fugro to deliver a major geotechnical investigation campaign at its Berwick Bank B offshore wind farm project site. Fugro is undertaking comprehensive geotechnical investigations at Berwick Bank B’s site in the outer Firth of Forth, around 38km east of the Scottish Borders coastline.
The campaign will support the final design of the project’s fixed‑bottom turbine foundations, which would comprise a mix of jackets and monopiles.
Fugro’s geotechnical vessels, Fugro Quest and Fugro Zenith, are delivering the work in water depths averaging 50 metres. The vessels use advanced coring and conventional sampling techniques to drill boreholes to depths reaching 50 metres below the seabed to collect high‑quality soil and rock samples. These samples will provide the geo-data needed to design safe and efficient foundations for the turbines, helping de-risk construction.
Berwick Bank B is the 1.4GW second phase of SSE’s Berwick Bank Wind Farm project which is targeting the delivery of 4.1GW of offshore wind capacity across three roughly equal phases.
Fugro’s appointment follows SSE’s success in January’s UK Contracts for Difference (CfD) Allocation Round 7 in which it secured a 20-year contract for 1.4GW of offshore wind power from Berwick Bank B. SSE is currently progressing Berwick Bank’s second phase towards a final investment decision (FID) in line with its hurdle rates and investment criteria, expected in 2027.
If built to its full 4.1GW potential capacity, Berwick Bank Wind Farm could become the world’s largest offshore wind farm on completion. At full production it would be capable of generating enough clean electricity to power more than six million UK homes annually through reliable, home‑grown renewable power. This makes Berwick Bank a nationally significant development project for the UK’s long‑term energy security and clean power targets.
Commenting on the contract award, Gordon Rae, Geotechnical Package Manager for Berwick Bank at SSE Renewables, said:
“The commencement of a geotechnical investigation campaign to inform the final design of Berwick Bank B’s turbine foundations is an important milestone and demonstrates our commitment at SSE to disciplined and de-risked project delivery. As we progress the project towards FID, we are pleased to continue our long‑standing relationship with Fugro and look forward to delivering a safe and successful geotechnical investigation programme at Berwick Bank B.”
The current geotechnical investigation campaign builds on Fugro’s ongoing involvement at Berwick Bank, where the company has been delivering surveys since 2019.
Remmelt de Jong, Fugro’s Director for Marine Site Characterisation in Europe and Africa, said:
“This award reflects the confidence SSE has in Fugro’s geotechnical expertise and builds on our established partnership supporting the Berwick Bank project. Our advanced coring capabilities and strong offshore track record will support safe and efficient foundation design. We’re proud to continue working with SSE on one of the world’s most significant offshore wind developments.”