Offshore wind innovation challenge names winners
9 June 2025
Winners of the Offshore Wind Net Positive Challenge by Ocean Impact Organisation (OIO) and Southerly Ten were announced today, with EnviroDNA, Hullbot and Pentarch Offshore Solutions recognised for their innovative solutions.
An Australian first, the Challenge was created to shine a light on locally developed technologies which could be applied in the offshore wind sector to have a positive impact on the environment.
The winning solutions include eDNA technology to safely monitor and model site biodiversity, autonomous underwater robotics for vessel hull cleaning, and kelp-seeded deployment devices to support marine reforestation.
Southerly Ten Chief Development Officer, Erin Coldham, said the Challenge showcases local talent and opportunities.
“We believe that Australia can lead the world in delivering offshore wind projects that are good for the climate, nature and communities. These innovations are great examples of how things can be done in new and better ways to leave a positive legacy for the ocean and future generations” she said.
The Challenge was run by OIO which is dedicated to supporting and accelerating ocean impact businesses to transform ocean health, with support from Southerly Ten.
OIO CEO and Co-founder, Nick Chiarelli, highlighted that the offshore wind sector is at a defining moment with an opportunity to embed ecological innovation from the start.
“We have a fantastic opportunity to ensure that offshore wind installations are rolled out in a way that not only achieves positive climate outcomes and also results in a win for nature and biodiversity. I applaud the leadership position that Southerly Ten has taken by actively seeking to uncover and support complementary biodiversity solutions” he said.
The Challenge attracted entries across three categories: protection technology to protect the existing environment and avoid harm; enabling technology such as robotics, sensing and communications systems; and restoration technology to enhance and restore natural systems.
Protection category winner, EnviroDNA, is a cost-effective and scalable technology to rapidly monitor and model biodiversity and species changes from seawater samples.
“EnviroDNA is proud to be named the Protection Technology Winner. This recognition highlights how eDNA technology can support the OSW industry in guiding effective marine ecosystem restoration, empowering communities, and enabling First Nations to monitor and protect Sea Country. By doing so, we help redefine how renewable energy progress can be balanced with the health of our oceans” said Jim Stuart, CEO of EnviroDNA.
Enabling category winner, Hullbot, provides autonomous robots which clean and inspect vessel hulls to reduce emissions by up to 20%.
“Hullbot’s technology helps offshore wind support vessels cut fuel use, by keeping hulls clean and efficient. As offshore renewables grow, smarter fleet maintenance is key and we're proud to support the energy transition from beneath the surface” said Tom Loefler, CEO of Hullbot.
Restoration category winner, Pentarch Offshore Solutions, is developing kelp-seeded deployment pods to restore ocean forests, enhance marine biodiversity, stabilise seabeds and support blue carbon capture.
“Winning the Restoration Technology Award affirms our commitment to innovation that benefits both industry and environment. Our kelp pod solution helps offshore wind projects deliver a net positive impact—restoring marine ecosystems while building a sustainable energy future” said William Kanavan, Managing Director of Pentarch Offshore Solutions.
Southerly Ten is developing Australia’s most advanced offshore wind project, Star of the South, an up to 2.2 GW offshore wind energy project with the potential to power 1.2 million homes across 30 years of operations, directly invest $7 billion into the Australian economy and create 6,600 jobs over the project’s life.