Successfully navigating the complex regulatory regime of the Irish and Celtic Seas

Deep local expertise

As the Welsh offshore wind industry continues to mature rapidly, there is an even greater need for a clear and consistent consenting approach. Working with the right partner to help navigate these complex regulatory requirements is essential. RPS is an established local consultancy with specialist regulatory and subject matter knowledge and experience of working in complex marine environments. Our team has a deep understanding of these consenting regimes to successfully navigate them and deliver projects in the region to support the long-term sustainability of the industry.

Our extensive team, based in Wales and the SW, understand the need to work together, with the local regulatory regimes, local stakeholders, and partners, to smoothly deliver successful outcomes for developers. The breadth of experience of our regulatory and subject matter experts facilitates knowledge transfer through the lessons we’ve learned in each market - ensuring the latest innovations, R&D, and scientific understanding enables detailed discussion with each of these authorities and interested parties before any conclusions are drawn and the right technical solution(s) applied.

Based in Chepstow, Cardiff and Bristol, our teams have undertaken several offshore wind and marine renewable projects in the Irish and Celtic Seas. We are currently delivering the EIA and HRA for the Mona (and Morgan) offshore wind farm projects for the bp and EnBW consortium in the Irish Sea; and in South Wales we recently delivered the EIA, planning and consent applications required for both the Pembroke Dock Infrastructure  and the Marine Energy Testing Area (META)  projects – two of the four pillars of the Pembroke Dock Marine collaborative project, to support the development of the marine energy industry in Wales. We were also previously the EIA lead for the Atlantic Array wind farm for RWE and Ormonde wind farm for Vattenfall.

How our team can support your development needs

RPS’ extensive offshore wind experience includes 20 years at the forefront of the industry, working across the UK, Europe, America, and Asia Pacific. We’ve supported both floating and fixed foundation offshore wind projects, and we have deep experience in the provision of technical consultancy and operational support for the energy sector.

We employ some of the world's best offshore talent, with deep local and international expertise to deliver confident, reliable, pragmatic solutions to avoid permitting and regulatory bottlenecks. We understand there are, and will continue to be, many competing resource needs of the regulatory agencies and for developers. RPS continues to grow to meet our clients’ needs – to ensure the best and most knowledgeable experts in the field are available to move the process of developing offshore wind projects forward, at pace, to meet future demand.

RPS has an excellent understanding of offshore wind in the Irish and Celtic Seas and has worked in these areas under the DCO system and Welsh marine licensing through NRW-MLT. As a result, our team has excellent relationships with local stakeholders and interested parties, and of the data associated with the offshore environment in the area, as well as excellent knowledge of the onshore environment through our work on the onshore elements of these projects.

If you'd like to discuss your requirements, please reach to our team any time. RPS is also gold sponsors of the Marine Energy Wales Conference later this month, the team will be attending and you can meet with them at Stand 23.