Cerulean Winds, the lead developer of 3GW+ of UK floating offshore wind, announced Thursday the completion of 72 Digital Aerial Surveys (DAS) for its Aspen, Beech and Cedar developments, collecting ecological data across an area of 2,784 km² - equivalent to the combined area of Perth, Kinross, and Angus.
The work, completed by HiDef Surveying using fixed-wing aircraft equipped with ultra-high-resolution digital surveying technology, took place between April 2023 and March 2025.
The data will be used in environmental assessments for the project’s consenting phase and to ensure compliance with UK and European environmental legislation. The findings will also help optimise sustainable project planning, including turbine placement and infrastructure planning.
Survey activity commenced immediately following the announcement of INTOG leasing awards in March 2023, enabling Cerulean to accelerate environmental data collection and keep consenting timelines on track.
“The completion of this best-in-class work, delivered at scale, is another milestone in the development of the UK’s floating offshore wind industry. The HiDef team have provided the accurate data we need to make our projects as sustainable as possible,” said Dan Jackson, founding director of Cerulean Winds. “We’re now looking ahead, alongside our consortium of partners, to developing the project and capturing the benefits of a UK-based FLOW industry.”
Having completed the surveys, Cerulean is set to submit its Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the Aspen project, a critical step in accelerating timely project delivery and achieving commercial operation.
Commenting after the completion of works, Nicholas Tompkins, chief executive officer of HiDef Surveying, said: “Completing 72 digital aerial surveys across these sites marks a significant milestone in offshore wind development. This large-scale data collection effort supports comprehensive environmental assessments, aiding the consenting process and ensuring sustainable project planning. By using ultra-high-resolution digital surveying technology, we have achieved precise species identification while minimising environmental impact - reinforcing our commitment to innovation in offshore monitoring.”
Once built, the three Cerulean Winds projects (Aspen, Beech and Cedar), could comprise up to 300 turbines. The 1GW Aspen site will be developed first, providing new offshore wind capacity helping to meet the UK government’s 50GW by 2030 target.