en.Wedoany.com Reported - Dutch survey company Fugro has signed a two-year environmental services contract with Ireland's state-owned electricity transmission operator EirGrid to conduct long-term marine mammal monitoring along the south coast of Ireland. The work will support EirGrid's "Powering Up Offshore – South Coast" project, which is building the power infrastructure needed to connect future offshore wind farms to the national grid. The contract also marks the first commercial deployment of Fugro's dedicated mooring system.

The contract builds on Fugro's existing seven-year framework agreement with EirGrid, supporting the responsible development of offshore renewable energy infrastructure. Upon completion, the "Powering Up Offshore – South Coast" project is expected to connect approximately 900 megawatts of renewable electricity, enough to power nearly one million homes, making a significant contribution to Ireland's energy security and climate goals.

EirGrid Senior Ecologist Robert Fennelly stated that long-term monitoring helps establish a clear, evidence-based understanding of the operational marine environment. Fugro will install and maintain a network of eight static, silent seabed mooring units. These monitoring units are fixed to the seabed and equipped with underwater acoustic sensors to detect and record the presence and activity of cetaceans (whales, dolphins, and porpoises). The company will periodically retrieve and analyze data, providing EirGrid with clear summary updates on cetacean activity and annual reports on species presence and distribution across the area. Fennelly added that EirGrid is committed to integrating high-quality environmental data into all phases of offshore projects to support Ireland's transition to a low-carbon energy future.

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