Offshore Energy and Telecommunications
The ocean provides abundant opportunities for renewable energy generation, particularly for coastal cities with large populations and limited space for energy development. With booming development in offshore wind, subsea electric and telecommunications cables, and traditional offshore energy, much of our work is focused on this sector.
Overview
This sector demands expertise in benthic ecology, fisheries, marine mammals, acoustics, and archaeology. Our team has a proven track record, successfully supporting the developers of over half of U.S. offshore wind lease areas and their subsea transmission cables. We also have a long history of providing environmental assessments, monitoring, and management for offshore oil, gas, and telecom projects globally.
We Use Non-Extractive Survey Methodologies to Minimize Project Impacts
We primarily use non-extractive survey methodologies like the Sediment Profile Imaging/Plan View (SPI/PV) camera system, remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) equipped with high resolution camera systems, Baited Remote Underwater Video (BRUV), and eDNA to assess benthic and fish communities without causing harm to marine habitats and biota. These approaches avoid the negative environmental impacts associated with extractive surveys (grabs, trawls) and provide a more holistic and integrated view of the environment.
Related Projects
Empire Wind Offshore Wind Project
INSPIRE is conducting a BRUV survey within the Empire Wind Lease Area to monitor potential changes in fish community composition over time and distance from turbines. This is paired with eDNA sampling to get a more complete understanding of the fish community.
Related Projects
Morro Bay, California Wind Energy Area Risk Evaluation Risk Evaluation, Fisheries Desktop Study, and Data Visualization Platform
INSPIRE’s experts conducted a desktop Risk Assessment to determine permitting risks related to the sale and purchase of a lease block in the Morro Bay Wind Energy Area. The report detailed the methodology, categorized risks by group and area, and highlighted high-risk zones, impacts, and implications.
