Consultation outcome

Offshore renewables decommissioning guidance for industry: proposed updates

Applies to England and Wales

This consultation has concluded

Download the full outcome

Detail of outcome

We have updated the Decommissioning offshore renewable energy installations: guidance for industry document following the response to this consultation.

Detail of feedback received

The consultation received 19 responses from a range of stakeholders, including:

  • offshore renewable energy developers, owners and operators
  • an offshore renewable energy industry body
  • regulators of the offshore renewable energy industry
  • an academic research group

The responses were wide-ranging, with most respondents requesting as much flexibility as possible in the guidance while also providing certainty on key requirements. All responses will be considered in full to inform the development of a final guidance document, which we aim to publish later this year.


Original consultation

Summary

We're seeking views on proposed updates to our guidance on decommissioning for developers of offshore renewable energy installations.

This consultation ran from
to

Consultation description

The date for responses has been extended to 16 March to ensure we capture as many views on the draft guidance notes as possible in determining the final version of the document.

We’re seeking views on a series of proposed updates to our guidance for industry on decommissioning of offshore renewable energy installations under the Energy Act 2004.

This consultation applies to England and Wales, but we welcome responses from organisations based elsewhere who have views on how the proposed changes may impact the offshore renewable energy industry.

The last version of this guidance was published in 2011, and sections now need to be updated. This update focuses in particular on issues relating to the provision of decommissioning cost estimates and associated financial security, to assist and inform developers.

We want views on this first draft from industry, regulators, and other interested parties, on the potential impacts - for example on the offshore renewables sector, the environment, or on other users of the sea. We are also testing early ideas on future updates to our guidance that require further development before being incorporated.

Finally, we are interested in hearing from those organisations impacted by decommissioning about their experiences of the regime to date.

Documents

Offshore renewables decommissioning guidance for industry: proposed updates

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alt.formats@beis.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Decommissioning of offshore renewable energy installations under the Energy Act 2004: draft guidance notes for industry (England and Wales)

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alt.formats@beis.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.
Published 7 February 2018
Last updated 21 March 2019 + show all updates
  1. Consultation concluded with a link to updated Decommissioning offshore renewable energy installations guidance. Government response, including summary of responses added.

  2. Summary of consultation responses published.

  3. The date for responses has been extended to 16 March to ensure we capture as many views on the draft guidance notes as possible in determining the final version of the document.

  4. First published.