The Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) has commissioned ABL Group’s subsidiary, OWC, to supervise geophysical and geotechnical surveys at two offshore wind farm sites in Portugal. The sites, located at Leixões and Figueira da Foz, are part of the Allocation Plan for Offshore Renewable Energy (PAER).
OWC will deploy specialised geophysical and geotechnical representatives to ensure adherence to IPMA’s high standards for health, safety, and environmental protocols. They will be supported by Hidromod, a Portugal-based water and environmental consultancy also within the ABL Group. Tom Gray, OWC’s subsurface director, expressed satisfaction with the collaboration, highlighting the value of Hidromod’s local expertise.
The geophysical survey will include multibeam echosounder, side scan sonar, and other advanced techniques. Geotechnical work will involve seabed grab samples, vibrocores, and cone penetration tests. José Chambel Leitão, managing director of Hidromod, noted the synergy between local knowledge and OWC’s global experience.
Initiated in April, the surveys by IPMA with OWC and Hidromod’s involvement from September are projected to extend through November. These efforts are integral to Portugal’s Maritime Spatial Planning Situation Plan and its goal of carbon neutrality by 2050, aligning with the REPowerEU Plan.
Ana Pirrone, OWC’s country manager, emphasised the significance of these projects for Portugal’s offshore renewable energy development. Both OWC and Hidromod are part of the Oslo-listed ABL Group ASA, a global consultancy in energy and oceans.
