The Strategic Compensation Studies (SCS) is a £3.5 million project running until the end of 2027 which forms part of the Offshore Wind Evidence and Change programme (OWEC), led by The Crown Estate (in partnership with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs). Alongside The Offshore Wind Evidence and Change programme funding, we also have significant financial and in-kind contributions from participating Offshore Wind Industry Council (OWIC) members.
The SCS project is looking to provide more confidence in different strategic compensation measures to all stakeholders by carrying out practical trials and collating evidence to help fill data gaps, ensuring projects can be consented and conditions discharged in a timely manner and that the relevant frameworks and mechanisms are in place for delivery. The SCS project will also support the approval of additional measures to the Defra Library of Strategic Compensation Measures and help to enable the acceleration of offshore wind delivery in UK waters, ensure the ecological cohesion of the national site network, and provide opportunities for the offshore wind industry to support wider marine recovery.
To investigate the effectiveness of certain strategic compensation measures through desk-based feasibility case studies and practical pilots to increase confidence and outline compensation options for the offshore wind industry
To create a toolbox of collaborative compensation lessons learnt, incorporating measures and a mechanism by which these can be secured, delivered and relied upon in plan and project consenting decisions.
1. Develop and test a delivery mechanism(s) and governance arrangements to allocate benefits and share risks across multiple schemes
2. Test and monitor potential strategic compensation measures through a series of practical pilots and desk-based studies
3. Define and test the most appropriate approaches to managing strategic measures (including adaptive management)
4. Provide options that satisfy the Habitat Regulations / Marine and Coastal Access Act Compensation requirements for offshore wind plans and projects
Click through the slides below to learn about live Strategic Compensation Studies work packages.
