Author: Euan Marjoribanks, Business Development Manager
Offshore hurdles won’t slow the momentum down
It has been an interesting couple of days at this year's Global Offshore Wind conference in Manchester. With what felt like fewer project developers exhibiting, and a lack of material update on new projects, you might think this is a sign that the offshore wind sector is not out of the woods yet.
Grid delays and uncertainty over the TNUoS charges remain a prevalent issue for project developers preventing them accurately costing projects in order to move forward with confidence. Despite this, there remained tentatively positive vibes around the results of AR7 with the hope that AR8 will help deliver even more progress later this year. You just hope that it can live up to expectations and deliver another boost to the sector.
What is always encouraging at GOW is that, despite many of the same hurdles across the industry, the supply chain remains eager and willing to support the offshore wind sector. The technology, knowledge, experience and capabilities on show never fails to disappoint, and the innovation presented at many of the talks and presentations was fantastic.
Natural Power is keen to remain part of the driving force keeping offshore projects on track. Our team delivered a range of talks across the conference highlighting the brilliant work happening within the business. Sometimes it can feel like the industry is on pause, but when you take a step back, you can see the passion that sets offshore renewables apart from any other workforce.
How to improve communication during the planning process?
Gillian Vallejo, Principal Ecological Modeller at Natural Power, presented “From data overload to data insight: digital solutions for improved communication in offshore wind planning”.
Gillian outlined three digital solutions Natural Power uses to make planning information clearer and more accessible, drawing on examples from ornithological reporting and stakeholder communications.
Webmaps can present spatial data clearly and simply, such as illustrating constraints that may need to be considered in the context of Leasing Round 6.
She also shared how story maps can help communicate complex messages in a more straightforward and engaging way.
Finally, Gillian explained Natural Power’s approach to digital Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) reporting, demonstrating how it can make documents easier to navigate. While the example focused on an offshore ornithology chapter, the same approach can be applied to any topic chapter or report where complex figures and tables need to be presented clearly.
Our aim is to allow our clients to communicate with stakeholders in a much clearer and more efficient manner.
Environmental DNA (eDNA)
Michelle Elliott, Principal Environmental Consultant at Natural Power, shared a talk on eDNA called “Transforming offshore wind ecology surveys with eDNA”
Natural Power, in collaboration with EDF Renewables and NatureMetrics, has successfully demonstrated the value of environmental DNA (eDNA) as a powerful alternative to traditional fish survey methods for offshore wind developments.
By running eDNA sampling alongside conventional trawl surveys, the study shows that eDNA can detect a broader range of species — including smaller, migratory, and bottom-dwelling fish that are often missed by traditional techniques. This provides a more complete and robust understanding of marine ecosystems.
For developers, this represents a significant opportunity. eDNA offers a safer, more efficient and scalable approach to data collection, reducing offshore survey effort while improving ecological insight. In turn, this can help streamline consenting processes, accelerate project timelines, and reduce overall development costs.
As the offshore wind sector continues to grow, adopting innovative approaches like eDNA will be critical. This work provides a strong evidence base to support wider industry uptake, helping to modernise survey practices and enable more sustainable, cost-effective project delivery.
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