Renewable energy consultancy OWC has launched a dedicated service line to manage the interface between engineering, consenting and environmental impact assessments (EIA).
Environmental consultancy specialist, Lara Lawrie (pictured) has been appointed to head OWC’s new department as director of environment and consents.
She brings to the role more than 15 years’ experience specialising in EIA, consenting and permitting for marine and terrestrial renewable energy and infrastructure projects.
Lawrie’s track record in managing large scale offshore wind and marine renewable projects includes as marine CPD consent team lead, during which her project work included the Celtic Sea’s Erebus floating offshore wind project.
Her focus will be to support clients and OWC’s multi-disciplinary engineering teams in responding to environmental and permitting requirements across existing markets, technologies and in emerging renewable energy markets.
Lawrie said: “I’ve worked alongside OWC for many years and recognise the strategic importance of developing our capabilities and building in environmental and consenting support from an early stage.
“This will enable us to provide expert support to clients throughout the consenting process and to better manage the interface between engineering and environment.
“These are both critical elements in a project’s development and, delivered in parallel, they will help to provide advanced risk mitigation to future projects while also identifying opportunities in the engineering design process, to address issues such as marine net gain.
OWC chief executive William Cleverly said: “We’re delighted to have Lara onboard to build our Environment and Consents Team.
“This initiative now allows us to offer crucial additional support to clients at every stage of project development, complementing our existing services.”
OWC is a specialist global consultancy that helps develop and deliver projects and investments in offshore and onshore wind, solar PV, battery energy storage, hydrogen, and wave & tidal energy.
The company specialises in project development services, owner’s engineering and technical due diligence.
OWC is part of Oslo-listed ABL Group ASA.