Robosys Automation, a leader in marine autonomy systems, is leading Project ORACLES, a venture that aims to transform the environmental consenting process for offshore wind farms. The Project ORACLES consortium includes ACUAOcean, MSEIS, Plymouth Marine Laboratories, and the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult.
The data collection process for environmental monitoring at proposed OWF sites is labor-intensive, with separate providers handling various aspects such as bird monitoring and sea conditions. Data is collected manually and analyzed after it reaches shore, significantly slowing down the decision-making process. Aiming to reduce the approval timeline, Project ORACLES will leverage advanced marine robotics, advanced autonomous systems, and other digital ocean technologies, to streamline, improve, and accelerate the process, and help meet the UK’s target of 60GW of offshore wind capacity by 2030.
The project’s 14-month research phase will advance the use of clean maritime solutions, including ACUA’s Unmanned Survey Vessel (USV), which will be equipped with a range of environmental sensors (eDNA, ADCP, acoustics) to collect comprehensive, real-time data on marine life, water quality, and environmental changes.
The consortium will develop the dynamic positioning system and a BVLOS (beyond visual line of sight) winch profiling system for water column data collection, and the integrate multiple sensors delivering a novel and highly effective output, together with automated ballasting.
Robosys Automation, already a trusted provider of marine autonomy systems and vessel control systems, will additionally deliver a new capability to operate multiple USVs being operated from a single Remote Operations Centre (ROC).
Project ORACLES’ proposed outcomes will enable deployment of significant payloads, support USVs operating in higher sea states and across extended operating periods, and reduce capital, environmental and operational costs, whilst delivering and managing data more effectively.
The innovations involved not only reduce the need for multiple crewed survey missions but also decrease CO2 emissions and environmental disturbances compared to traditional crewed vessels, therefore aligning with the U.K.’s clean maritime goals.
In support of the U.K. government’s Levelling Up agenda, Project ORACLES will have a direct impact on the U.K.’s South West’s marine innovation cluster, fostering high-skilled jobs, supporting future skills, and contributing to the region’s economic growth. In addition, the project’s outputs will provide new business opportunities in the rapidly expanding global offshore wind market.
“This ambitious project will revolutionize the environmental consenting process for offshore wind farms (OWFs) in the Celtic Sea and other areas across the U.K.,” said Nigel Lee, project lead and Robosys’ CSO.
“These technological innovations will reduce the need for crewed survey missions and accelerate data delivery, enabling a faster, more cost-effective consenting process.”
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