SSE has appointed Fugro to carry out a large-scale geotechnical investigation at the Berwick Bank B offshore wind farm site, situated in the outer Firth of Forth around 38km off the Scottish Borders coast.

The programme will feed into the detailed engineering of fixed‑bottom turbine foundations, planned as a combination of jackets and monopiles.

Fugro's vessels, Fugro Quest and Fugro Zenith, are conducting operations in average water depths of about 50 metres. Using advanced coring alongside conventional sampling, the team is drilling to approximately 50 metres below the seabed to retrieve soil and rock cores. The resulting geo-data will underpin safe, efficient foundation design and help de‑risk construction.

Berwick Bank B represents the 1.4GW second phase of SSE's wider Berwick Bank Wind Farm, which is targeting 4.1GW of capacity across three roughly equal stages.

Fugro's award follows SSE's success in January's UK Contracts for Difference Allocation Round 7, where the company secured a 20‑year contract for 1.4GW from Berwick Bank B. SSE is advancing the second phase towards a final investment decision in line with its hurdle rates and investment criteria, with FID expected in 2027.

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If delivered at its full 4.1GW capacity, Berwick Bank could become the world's largest offshore wind farm on completion. At full output it is expected to generate enough clean power to supply more than six million UK homes each year with reliable, home‑grown renewable electricity, marking it as a nationally significant project for energy security and net zero goals.

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 latest campaign extends Fugro's long-running role at Berwick Bank, where it has been conducting 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."