Offshore wind consultants

We apply our experience from leading the permitting process on some of the largest offshore wind developments in the world, to identify and categorise the key permitting risks on a given development. This places us well to advise in a due diligence setting on offshore wind projects at a variety of stages of development – from early phase projects through to projects that have obtained their main development consents and are in pre-construction or construction. We apply our experience to evaluate the different key risks that could occur at each of these lifecycle stages.

We apply a structured approach to risk identification and categorisation that we have developed and implemented across several projects. Our approach considers the nature of a given risk, as well as the implications in terms of consent viability, consent condition implications (or the potential for these) and associated timeline and cost risks.

Our approach can be tailored to the requirements of our clients, with whom we work closely throughout the process.

The world today is radically changed, and will continue to evolve as markets and organisations work together to deliver their revised ambitions to meet future sustainability goals – nearshore and offshore.

With mergers and acquisitions being more frequent, understanding the local environmental sensitivities, permitting and regulatory risks, and the key data gaps associated with these deals is critical for their successful completion.

RPS has extensive permitting experience in the siting, development, construction and operation of major offshore developments in complex marine environments – so we have a deep understanding of the potential permitting and associated cost and time risks, and mitigations to limit your exposure.

As offshore infrastructure development increases, managing the environmental impacts becomes more complex.

RPS’ Alun Williams, Director - Offshore Renewables, delivered an ‘on demand’ presentation on permitting and cumulative impacts assessment at a recent US Offshore Wind virtual event.

You can watch the full 20-minute presentation here

We provide high-quality and durable LiDAR buoys for the site-specific long-term measurement of wind resource. Our buoy design is supported by decades of offshore measurement experience in the harshest environments, together with the application of industry-leading technology.

Our Metocean buoys are environmentally friendly – they’ve been carefully designed with moorings that minimise seabed disturbance and marine life entanglement risk, which simplifies the permitting process.

Read, and view, more about our LiDAR buoys

Uncertainty regarding offshore ground conditions can introduce unwanted ambiguity to a development project – particularly during a competitive bidding process.

RPS are acknowledged experts in the assessment and interpretation of ground conditions – reducing uncertainty and facilitating optimisation and informed decision-making within a competitive process.

When you’re looking to apply international standards at a local level, it helps to engage with teams who have a wealth of international experience to back you up.

Our teams have experience advising in a range of regulatory environments around the world. Bringing this experience to bear on their projects, they give their clients confidence in the high standard of advice provided.

Offshore surveys can be costly from a financial and a programme perspective. It’s critical that surveys are appropriately designed to achieve a given objective. Our teams of in-house technical specialists have deep expertise designing surveys. Our hard-earned experience has been built up through our involvement from the very early days of the offshore wind industry in Europe.

We have specialists who design offshore geophysical and geotechnical surveys, metocean surveys and the full range of environmental surveys (onshore and offshore). We routinely sit alongside our clients helping to procure and manage surveys as well as managing quality control and analysing outputs.

Read more about our range of offshore surveys

We provide unique metocean forecasting that integrates site-specific, real-time measurements with advanced model predictions to provide high-quality forecasts. These improve significantly on traditional forecast products, providing our clients with better information on which to make important decisions.

Read more about our metocean sciences and technology solutions

Using ocean data, visualisation systems and data analysis to enhance operations for offshore wind

Operating in complex ocean environments, offshore wind developers and contractors face a breadth of planning, implementation, and operational challenges. Already limited windows of opportunity for on-site construction and operational maintenance are often reduced by changing weather and uncertainty regarding MetOcean conditions. Effectively navigating this complex network of challenges requires integrated software systems, like RPS OceansMap, to ensure success.

Watch: OceansMap explained