A new report from the Offshore Wind Industry Council (OWIC) has outlined a framework to improve coordination of underwater noise management among offshore industries operating in the North Sea, as competition for seabed access intensifies.
The Underwater Noise Conflict Resolution Framework Report, prepared by energy consultancy Xodus Group for OWIC, highlights the increasing number of offshore wind, oil and gas, and carbon capture and storage projects—each operating under separate regulatory regimes. These activities often include underwater surveys, turbine foundation installations, and the clearance of unexploded ordnance.
The report points to the challenges of managing cumulative noise impacts in areas like the southern North Sea, which includes Marine Protected Areas designed to safeguard species such as harbour porpoises that are highly sensitive to underwater sound.
While regulators, conservation bodies, and industry stakeholders already work together to ensure that noise remains within acceptable limits, the report stresses the need for improved coordination to avoid scheduling conflicts and potential project delays. A lack of transparent arbitration mechanisms is identified as a key issue for developers.
“Protecting our rich biodiversity in the North Sea while we build vital clean energy infrastructure presents challenges which we’re determined to address,” said Juliet Shrimpton, Environment and Consents Manager at RenewableUK. “Marine industries work hard to ensure that rigorous underwater noise limits are adhered to, but we need to improve the way that different industries work together… so that activities can be coordinated more effectively.”
The report recommends the development of a coordinated planning framework and a structured decision-making process to resolve timing conflicts when multiple projects risk breaching noise thresholds.
Benj Sykes, OWIC Environment and Consents Workstream Sponsor and UK Country Manager for Orsted, said: “Initiatives like this are important to ensure that we continue to roll out new projects sustainably, and avoid delays so that we can generate economic growth by accelerating the deployment of vital new clean energy infrastructure whilst ensuring we take proper care of the marine environment.”
The framework is intended to help the UK meet its clean power targets for 2030, while balancing environmental considerations and supporting the continued expansion of offshore energy infrastructure.
