The Strategic Renewables Unit (SRU) has been progressing work on a range of cross-cutting offshore wind issues, including underwater noise management, environmental compensation, and decommissioning. The SRU also presented at the East Marine Ecosystems Conference in Lincoln and will be presenting at the Structures in the Marine Environment Conference in Newcastle. For more details on our work on underwater noise and environmental compensation, please see below.
Collaborative Management of Underwater Noise
The Southern North Sea Special Area of Conservation (SNS SAC) is designated to protect harbour porpoise, meaning underwater noise from offshore development must be carefully managed in the area. Jointly run by the Offshore Petroleum Regulator for Environment and Decommissioning (OPRED) and the Marine Management Organisation (MMO), the Development Coordination Forum (DCF) brings regulators and developers together to coordinate offshore projects and avoid exceeding the JNCC underwater noise disturbance thresholds within this site.
Introducing the Dispute Resolution Process
On the recommendation of the Xodus Conflict Resolution Report, the MMO and OPRED have recently developed and implemented the Dispute Resolution Process (DRP), now embedded in the DCF framework. The DRP has established a clear, structured approach for resolving scheduling conflicts between projects to avoid threshold breaches. The DRP is a key tool used to support compliance and protect the site, whilst also enabling continued expansion of offshore energy.
Testing the DRP – Rehearsal of Concept
Ahead of the SNS SAC 2026 summer season (1 April–30 September), OPRED and the MMO led a Rehearsal of Concept with the current DCF participants to test and refine the DRP. During the one-day exercise, participants used a fictional dispute scenario to work through each stage of the DRP and reach a coordinated resolution. The hands-on approach introduced the process to DCF participants, tested communication channels, and demonstrated timelines and regulatory decision-making. Insights from the exercise are informing ongoing developments to the DRP, focusing on communication, procedural clarity, and developer and regulator readiness.
Environmental Compensation Reform
On 21 May, the Environmental Compensatory Measures Reforms Statutory Instrument was laid. These reforms enable a broader range of ways for offshore wind developers to compensate for any unavoidable impact their projects have on protected sites. Compensation measures can now be more strategic. Defra has published guidance on when and how to compensate for environmental harm, as well as guidance on the newly introduced compensation hierarchy and the evidence required: Offshore wind: compensating for environmental harm - GOV.UK.
The SRU, on behalf of the MMO, coordinated the MMO's input into these reforms, drawing on our knowledge and ensuring the reforms fit with our regulatory remit.
For queries, contact SRU at sru@marinemanagement.org.uk.
seen at 09:51, 6 July in Marine Development Blog.