The German Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH) has selected Fraunhofer IWES, among others, to conduct initial exploratory work for the first bidding round for new offshore wind farm clusters in the North and Baltic Sea. Researchers will compile 3D seabed models based on geophysical data.The so-called multichannel seismic survey method delivers high-resolution data for soil layers at all relevant depths for wind turbine fundaments. The geophysical survey of the site is scheduled for September. During the campaign, acoustic signals are transmitted under water and the reflected acoustic waves are received and recorded using hydrophones. These reflections allow identification of the nature of the soil layers over several kilometers and provide information on the substances that will be encountered there. This, in turn, makes it easier to determine the technical factors which could affect the stability of a wind turbine or of a converter platform weighing up to 20,000 tonnes. This information is published within the scope of the bidding process for the areas by the German Federal Network Agency (BNetzA).
