OWC and APEM Join Forces to Advance UK Offshore Wind Decommissioning

en.Wedoany.com Reported - Global renewable energy consultancy OWC, through its subsidiary GoBe Consultants, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with APEM to jointly provide integrated technical solutions in the UK offshore wind decommissioning sector.

Under the agreement, OWC and APEM will collaborate on a project-by-project basis to help UK asset owners reduce risks, plan decommissioning, and execute related operations with confidence. OWC's expertise in offshore wind engineering, project management, and environmental consulting will complement APEM's strengths in environmental assessment, permitting, and regulatory compliance.

This partnership comes at a critical juncture for the UK offshore wind industry. It is estimated that by the early to mid-2030s, approximately 5 GW of offshore wind capacity will reach the end of its design life, requiring asset owners to choose between repowering and decommissioning. Among this, around 1 GW of Round 1 (RD1) capacity is scheduled to begin decommissioning from 2026-2027, with peak decommissioning activity expected between 2032 and 2034.

Cliff Pullen, Director of Asset Management at OWC, noted that offshore wind decommissioning is an inevitable next step in the UK's energy transition. While accelerating installations, it is essential to address how to safely and economically dispose of first-generation assets. Decommissioning is a non-productive expenditure, and its proper execution not only affects asset owners' interests but also the credibility of the entire industry. Nikki Young, Associate Director at GoBe Consultants, added that decommissioning is rapidly becoming a focal point for the industry. It is far more than the end of a project's lifecycle; it requires the same level of strategic planning, environmental consideration, and technical integration as early-stage development.