A British science and technology firm has won an €18million contract for a geotechnical study at a German offshore wind farm.

Spanish energy group Iberdrola awarded the contract to Gardline and GEO, a Danish engineering firm. Both companies will help carry out a seabed survey of the Baltic Sea and help determine the type of foundations required for the construction of Iberdrola’s Wikinger wind farm in Germany.

The energy firm claimed the 400MW project, which includes 80 turbines, is expected to generate enough electricity to power 350,000 German households every year.

Keith Anderson, CEO of ScottishPower Renewables and Global Offshore Division of Iberdrola said: “The start of sub-surface drilling is a crucial stage of the project, paving the way for construction of one of the largest deep-water offshore wind farms in the world. The outcome of geotechnical testing will provide us with valuable data on conditions of the seabed, which will directly determine the construction and design of the piles supporting the giant wind turbines.”

Iberdrola is expected to invest around €1.6billion in this project.