Atkins and The Crown Estate have jointly inaugurated a cutting-edge digital hub known as the Offshore Wind Evidence & Knowledge Hub (OWEKH), aimed at expediting offshore wind development in the United Kingdom. The hub, established as a knowledge center, seeks to revolutionize the information landscape of the offshore wind sector.
Supported financially by The Crown Estate through the Offshore Wind Evidence & Change Programme and managed by Atkins, OWEKH aims to facilitate the realization of the ambitious goal of achieving 50 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind capacity by 2030. It strives to achieve this by providing easy access to information that will accelerate and streamline the consenting process.
The forthcoming launch of the digital portal, slated for later this year, will allow developers, regulators, marine specialists, and other professionals involved in offshore wind to access and engage with essential data and documentation. This valuable resource will enable informed and efficient decision-making during the consenting process, promoting rapid and high-quality offshore wind development.
The comprehensive content available on the digital platform will encompass a range of crucial resources, including previous impact assessments, industry expertise, large-scale datasets, and academic references.
To ensure the successful development of this pivotal initiative, the project is calling for organizations and individuals to contribute their support and shape its evolution by enlisting in the Community of Practice and Technical Topic Groups.
Participants will have the opportunity to share their expertise in curating and interpreting the extensive collection of data and evidence gathered within the knowledge hub. Additionally, they will stay abreast of the latest advancements in the industry, contribute their own insights, and connect with subject matter experts concerning key concerns.
All parties involved in the offshore wind consenting process are encouraged to participate, ranging from consultants, specialized subcontractors, and developers to regulatory bodies and other stakeholders, including marine professionals and fisheries planners.
Sion Roberts, Marine Consents Manager at The Crown Estate and OWEKH Project Manager, emphasized the urgency of transitioning away from fossil fuels and enhancing energy security. Roberts stated, “As managers of the seabed, The Crown Estate recognizes that accelerating our journey to net zero requires collaboration across stakeholder groups working in offshore wind. Today's announcement marks an important step on the way to achieving this.” He further added, “By consolidating expertise between many projects and stakeholders across the sector, OWEKH will significantly shorten the consenting process and accelerate the expansion of offshore wind generation.”
Chris McDougall, Atkins OWEKH Project Director, highlighted the challenges faced by developers in the current consenting process, which often necessitates starting from scratch to gather knowledge. McDougall explained, “OWEKH will facilitate a valuable knowledge transfer, for instance, providing data on cetacean movements that may have already been captured, or a piece of best practice on analysis methodology.” He emphasized the role of the Community of Practice and Working Groups in guiding the publication of critical information and developing comprehensive guidance for the industry. McDougall encouraged offshore wind consent experts with valuable knowledge to participate in the initiative.
Interested individuals or organizations looking to join OWEKH's Community of Practice and Technical Topic Groups can register their interest by contacting Atkins' development team via email at Elspeth.mcintyre@atkinsglobal.com or by signing up on the microsite: https://register-owekh-interest.azurewebsites.net/home.
