Current offshore wind developments draw upon a range of disparate models, measurements and surveys in order to identify sites for development and to secure both planning consents and subsequent project finance. This includes information on the metocean climate, bathymetry, geology, sediment transport and, most importantly, wind energy yield. Much of this information is often based on short term data capture which includes increased levels of risk when forecasting environmental impacts and commercial revenues over a typical 20 year life of the development.

EO data not only offers the potential for improving wind field mapping based on long term observations carried out over many years but also presents very real opportunities to map other parameters including wave climate, bathymetry and features governing coastal change.

Phil Thompson, Managing Director of BMT Renewables said, 'Problems associated with planning and securing project finance represent major barriers that need to be overcome before we realise the full potential of UK offshore wind. This project will seek to provide a clear industry route map and scope for using EO based geo-information systems, to help mitigate uncertainties associated with long term impacts and yields.

Better forecasting will improve investor confidence and allow us to bridge the reality gap between the Government's targets and access to project financing, enabling real results.'

BMT is working with three EO service providers as project partners; RadarSat International of Canada, GRAS of Denmark, and Argoss of The Netherlands.

MJ Information No: 19310