geodata-info
Geological Screening for Offshore Wind
This repository contains maps of the thickness of late glacial and Holocene deposits in the Danish sea area, prepared as a basis for planning offshore wind. These are unconsolidated sediments that have not been overrun by the ice sheets of the ice ages, and therefore may have low geotechnical strength parameters.
This is a large-scale and very general mapping, and no detailed interpretation of the distribution of sand and clay/mud/silt, respectively, has been made. In relation to the foundations of offshore wind turbines, sandy deposits will typically not pose a challenge, while soft deposits of clay, mud and silt in large thicknesses are assumed to pose foundation challenges.
In addition to separate maps of the thickness of late glacial and Holocene deposits, a map of the total thickness of these two units has also been prepared, which thus constitutes a map of the total thickness of potentially soft sediments. Finally, the thickness of potentially soft sediments is used to divide the Danish sea area into categories in relation to the probability of larger thicknesses of soft sediments that could give rise to foundation challenges.
Other maps are the thickness of potentially soft glacial lake sediments in the North Sea, the depth to the Pre-Quaternary surface in the waters around Bornholm, as well as the depth to the base of the Holocene deposits and the depth to the base of the late glacial deposits/top of the glacial deposits in the Danish sea area.
As a supplement to the maps, a number of themes show where the late glacial and Holocene deposits are primarily expected to consist of sandy sediments. In addition, a number of themes show the Danish exclusive economic zone (EEZ), the location of conceptual geological models that can be seen in the overall report, all interpreted seismic lines, areas with near-surface gas in the sediments, interpreted distribution of the Palaeo-Elbe Valley in the North Sea, distribution of the Weichsel ice and ice-affected sediments in the North Sea, buried valleys (Prins & Andresen 2019; van der Vegt et al. 2012; Ottesen et al. 2020; Kirkham et al. 2024; Sandersen & Jørgensen 2016), structural elements (Al Hseinat & Hübscher 2017; Jensen et al. 2002), ice margin lines (Lange 1984; Kjær et al. 2003; Pedersen 2005; Phillips et al. 2018, 2022; Kirkham et al. 2024; Szuman et al. 2024; Pedersen & Boldreel 2017).
The data basis for the work has primarily been new and existing near-surface seismic data and vibrocore drilling. The mapping was carried out for the Danish Energy Agency by GEUS, and is intended to support the development of offshore wind. The results, together with a sensitivity mapping of natural and environmental parameters, initiated by the Danish Energy Agency, are to be included in an overall assessment of suitable areas for offshore wind in Denmark.
Simple
Identifikation
- Titel
-
Geological Screening for Offshore Wind
Offentliggørelsestidspunkt
- Dato (Publication)
- 2025-09-19
Ansvarlig myndighed og kontaktoplysninger
- Kontakt vedr. service
-
Organisationsnavn E-mail adresse Rolle The Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS)
Point of contact
- Metadata author
-
Organisationsnavn E-mail adresse Rolle The Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS)
Point of contact
Geografisk udstrækning
- Koordinatsystem
-
ETRS 89 / UTM 32N (EPSG:25832)
Nøgleord
- Nøgleord
-
Dataset
- Nøgleord
-
Geology
- Nøgleord
-
Screening
- Nøgleord
-
Offshore Wind
- Type
- Theme
- Nøgleord
- Sedimentary rocks and processes
- Nøgleord
- Marine geology
- Nøgleord
- Quaternary geology
- Nøgleord
- Geomorphology
- Type
- Theme
- Titel
- Forskningsemner
- Dato (Publication)
- 2025-11-03
- Nøgleord
- Denmark
- Type
- Place
- Titel
- Geografisk
- Dato (Publication)
- 2025-12-11
Kvalitet
- Type som metadata beskriver
- Dataset
- Beskrivelse
-
The dataset was produced by GEUS for the Danish Energy Agency as part of a geological screening of the entire Danish marine area to support offshore wind planning. The maps show the thickness of Late Glacial and Holocene deposits and derived themes related to potentially soft sediments and geological complexity.
The mapping is based on interpretation of new and existing shallow seismic data and vibrocore samples. The results represent a large-scale, regional geological assessment without detailed lithological differentiation between sand and clay/mud.
Separate maps of Late Glacial and Holocene deposits, as well as a map of their combined thickness, were produced and used to classify marine areas according to the likelihood of foundation-related challenges. The results serve as decision support in the Danish Energy Agency’s overall assessment of suitable areas for offshore wind development.
)))
