
Floating LiDAR buoy
For developers, competition is increasing as the search widens for cleaner, renewable energy resources offshore. Collecting reliable data that supports a ‘bankable investment’ narrative is critical.
We took traditional LiDAR technology and integrated it into a floating buoy with highly reliable renewable power, data storage and satellite communication capabilities. We gather and deliver accurate data your project can trust.

Checklist: how to select the right Floating LiDAR buoy
They're an essential tool for gathering wind resource and other metocean data, but if you're researching which buoy to choose, how do you ensure you'll get value from your investment? For some suggestions, sign up to receive our list of key questions to ask.

Our design and development process applies our deep expertise of offshore measurement. The resulting design makes the process of information gathering easier and more cost-effective for our clients.
RPS’ floating LiDAR is environmentally friendly. Our mooring design minimises seabed damage and risk of marine life entanglement. The buoy is powered by solar and wind energy, helping meet the stringent environmental consenting conditions often associated with renewable wind farm projects.
It’s robust too – when two buoys deployed in 220m of water off South Korea took a direct hit from Typhoon Maysak in September 2020 (estimated to be an extreme, 50-year return period, storm event), our buoys continued to transmit data. We now have a detailed data set that will inform critical design elements for our clients.
Related read: discover more about Research & Development for renewables at RPS

Making complex easy - the RPS Floating LiDAR buoy
Traditional LiDAR technology in a buoy – with power, data storage and satellite communication capabilities.

Insight: Achieving wind measurement success offshore
Traditional LiDAR is used extensively for mapping the spatial characteristics of built and natural features on land. However, to ensure the commercial viability of an offshore wind farm, our clients need reliable resource data to support their project feasibility assessment. Floating LiDAR technology is the future in terms of collecting trusted resource data to support investment decisions.

Level 2 Certification
The Carbon Trust roadmap outlines a strategy to ensure the commercial reliability and acceptability of floating LiDAR data technology. To this end, they have designed a robust certification process. In 2019, our floating LiDAR technology achieved Level 2 certification, which qualifies the RPS Lidar 4.5 buoy type to collect bankable wind resource data for clients wishing to develop offshore wind farms.
Our LiDAR buoys are now celebrating a big milestone, having collected six years of data without dropping a single 10-minute transmission. We are headed towards Level 3 certification, expected in the next 12 months.

Let’s hear it for the buoys: why RPS floating LiDAR is a long-running success
RPS’ floating LiDAR buoys offer world-leading measurement technology. Their reliability means that our clients can expect successful acquisition of high value continuous data, delivered on time.
The buoys’ success is down to excellent build quality, our team’s decades of metocean experience and their advanced design, including remote intervention capabilities.
Recent deployments - key markets
RPS’ floating LiDAR buoys provide highly accurate data to inform offshore wind farm development, for activities such as site selection, yield optimisation, array engineering and workplace safety. They have so far been deployed in the US, the UK, Europe, Australia and South Korea.
The power system of our buoy is designed to support high or low latitude deployment, except for regions where sea ice is prevalent. The buoy and mooring system are tailored for each deployment and for the water depth and extreme environmental conditions expected, including typhoons, hurricanes and cyclones. The buoy can be deployed in water depths ranging from 10m to full ocean depth.

Managing project development risk through design
When gathering design and feasibility data for offshore wind projects, which challenges are deal-breakers for you? Find out how the RPS Floating LiDAR buoy's advanced design mitigates against some common project risks.
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Hear more from some of our team!
They discuss managing offshore wind project risk through advanced LiDAR buoy design in this short video.
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Outstanding safety credentials
In 2019, RPS received the Safe Way Achiever Platinum Award with the Industrial Foundation for Accident Prevention (IFAP) which recognises best practice in the implementation and continuous improvement of our HSSEQ management system.
Stand out achievements
- ‘Donesafe’ – the implementation of our online safety management system platform
- Our subcontractor management programme
- Our monthly HSSEQ bulletins
- Our HSE information and statistics dashboards
- Our “R U okay day” events – recognising the importance of mental health in the workplace
Downloads
More questions? Read our Floating LiDAR FAQ sheet.