OWC and APEM Group Partner on UK Offshore Wind Decommissioning

Renewable energy consultancy OWC and APEM Group, through its subsidiary GoBe Consultants, have signed a memorandum of understanding to deliver integrated technical solutions for offshore wind decommissioning in the UK. The partnership combines offshore wind engineering with environmental planning and consenting expertise to help owners de-risk and execute decommissioning campaigns. The agreement arrives at a pivotal moment for the sector, with around 5 GW of UK offshore wind capacity expected to reach the end of its life in the early to mid-2030s, forcing owners to choose between repowering and decommissioning their first-generation assets.

 

Structure of the Partnership

 

The agreement takes the form of a memorandum of understanding between OWC and APEM Group. APEM's involvement comes through its subsidiary GoBe Consultants, which brings environmental and regulatory expertise to the arrangement. Under the terms, the two parties will collaborate on a project-by-project basis rather than through a single fixed structure. This flexible approach allows them to combine their respective skill sets according to the needs of each campaign. The result is intended to be an integrated and independent technical offering for clients.

The partnership is designed to span the full lifecycle of a decommissioning project. It aims to support clients from early-stage strategy and planning through to eventual delivery. Combining engineering and environmental capabilities allows the partners to address technical and regulatory challenges together. This integration is intended to help clients de-risk and optimise their campaigns. It also seeks to enable informed decision-making before costly commitments are made.

 

Complementary Capabilities

 

The collaboration brings together two distinct areas of expertise. OWC contributes offshore wind engineering, project expertise and environmental advisory experience. APEM Group adds environmental, consenting and regulatory capabilities through GoBe Consultants. This combination creates what the partners describe as an end-to-end offering for UK stakeholders. The pairing is intended to cover both the technical and the regulatory dimensions of decommissioning.

Company representatives emphasised how these capabilities reinforce one another. GoBe brings expertise in environmental assessment, consenting and regulatory strategy to help clients navigate complex requirements. Partnering with OWC allows this to be integrated with robust engineering and technical insight. Together they aim to give clients a fuller view of decommissioning challenges and opportunities from the outset. This integrated perspective is presented as supporting more informed and efficient decisions.

 

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Market Context and Timing

 

The partnership responds to a significant wave of decommissioning approaching the UK sector. Around 5 GW of UK offshore wind capacity is expected to reach the end of its operational life in the early to mid-2030s. This will prompt owners to decide whether to repower their sites or proceed with decommissioning. Approximately 1 GW of earlier capacity is expected to be decommissioned beginning in 2026 and 2027. Decommissioning campaigns are forecast to peak between 2032 and 2034.

This timing places decommissioning at the centre of the UK energy transition. Company leadership described decommissioning as the next inevitable frontier for the sector as deployment accelerates. Addressing how to retire the first generation of assets is framed as both a technical and commercial necessity. These campaigns carry significant technical, environmental and cost uncertainties. Managing them effectively is presented as essential for owners and for the credibility of the wider industry.

 

Significance for the Offshore Wind Sector

 

The partnership reflects a growing recognition that decommissioning requires dedicated strategic attention. Industry figures stress that it is not simply the end of a project lifecycle. Instead, it demands the same level of planning, environmental consideration and technical integration as offshore development itself. This reframing positions decommissioning as a discipline in its own right. It signals a maturing of the sector as its earliest assets approach retirement.

Getting decommissioning right carries implications beyond individual asset owners. As a non-productive cost, decommissioning presents particular commercial challenges for owners. Company representatives noted that handling it well is critical for the credibility of the broader industry. Effective planning can help avoid regulatory delays and unforeseen costs. The partners argue that their integrated approach can deliver decommissioning outcomes that are compliant, efficient and suited to the future of UK offshore wind.