OWC and Hidromod engaged for Portuguese wind farm areas

The Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) has appointed ABL Group company OWC and Hidromod to support the geophysical and geotechnical surveys at two wind farm areas offshore Portugal.

IPMA is Portugal’s national authority for meteorology, aeronautical meteorology, climate, seismology, and geomagnetism. The organisation is currently leading a geophysical and geotechnical survey over two areas from the Allocation Plan for Offshore Renewable Energy (PAER) – Leixões and Figueira da Foz.

Renewable energy consultancy OWC will provide specialist geophysical and geotechnical client representatives to oversee the offshore surveys with support from Portugal-based water and environmental consultants, Hidromod – also part of ABL Group. The purpose is to secure high HSE standards, perform quality control of offshore activities, and ensure that data collection and the technical survey scopes are completed in-line with IPMA’s requirements.

“We are pleased that IPMA has chosen OWC’s technical and operational expertise to support these nationally significant renewable projects, and we are glad to have Hidromod’s capabilities within ABL Group to add value to this project and provide an in-country presence for the client,” says Tom Gray, subsurface director and global client representative service line lead at OWC.

“This project allows us to combine our local site and industry knowledge with OWC’s strong global track record from provision of client representatives for the renewables market,” says José Chambel Leitão, founder and managing director of Hidromod.

“These are important wind farm areas for the development of offshore renewable energy in Portugal. To play a small part in the early stages of these potential projects is both rewarding and exciting for our local team,” says Ana Pirrone, OWC’s country manager for Portugal and Spain.