UXO Clearance Technology Trial

Status: Completed

Start Date: April 2024

Lead Organisation: Defra

The UXO Clearance Technology Trials Project is testing quieter ways to clear unexploded ordnance from the seabed during offshore wind farm construction. Unexploded ordnance can pose safety risks and often needs to be removed before offshore work can begin, but traditional clearance methods can create high levels of underwater noise that may disturb marine mammals and other wildlife. This project is trialling alternative low-noise technologies in controlled quarry conditions to understand how effectively they work and how much they could reduce noise compared with conventional approaches. The evidence gathered will help regulators, policymakers and offshore wind developers make informed decisions about safer and more environmentally responsible clearance methods. By supporting wider use of quieter technologies, the project aims to reduce impacts on the marine environment, encourage innovation in the clearance technology market, and help offshore wind projects progress in a way that supports the UK’s renewable energy ambitions.