What Aquatera does

Aquatera Ltd. is a privately held UK environmental and operational support consultancy headquartered in Stromness, Orkney, founded in 2000. The firm delivers advisory, technical, and project support services across marine, coastal, and land-based activities, with a primary focus on the marine renewable energy sector (offshore and onshore wind, wave and tidal energy, floating solar, hydrogen, and oil and gas transition). Secondary practice areas include aquaculture, ports and shipping, heritage management, and community/public sector engagements.

The company operates a hybrid consultancy-and-product model. Its core professional services cover strategic planning, project impact assessment and permitting, survey and data management, technology development support, deployment and operations support, performance evaluation, and seascape/landscape/visual impact assessment. Alongside these services, Aquatera commercialises two proprietary technology assets: RADMApp, a GIS-based raster framework capable of processing 500 million pixels per input and output layer for site selection and resource assessment; and a Global Tidal Database covering more than 11,000 sites across 150+ countries, sourced from authoritative hydrographic bodies. Additional resources include the Aqua-RET e-learning tool and a video library of marine energy deployments.

Revenue is generated through project-based professional services engagements with enterprise clients, government bodies, and research/industry organisations in the UK and internationally. The go-to-market is sales-led and relationship-driven, supported by content marketing, downloadable brochures in multiple languages, and memberships in industry clusters across Europe, North America, and Australasia. The firm is recognised by the Orkney Islands Council as a contributor to the region's marine energy sector and holds ISO 9001, Cyber Essentials Plus, and Scottish Living Wage Employer certifications.

Name

Aquatera

Legal name

Aquatera Ltd.

Website

https://aquatera.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Aquatera is a UK-based environmental consultancy delivering technical advisory, permitting, and resource assessment services to marine renewable energy developers, governments, and aquaculture operators, supported by proprietary GIS tools and a global tidal database.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Consulting Services

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (54162), Aquaculture (1125)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Oceans, Coastal & Marine Resource Management (BPADALAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Marine & Offshore Wind BOP Construction (Foundations, Cables, Ports, Installation Support) (EUAMAFAI), Coastal & Marine Resources Administration (Oceans, Fisheries, Shorelines) (BPAIAMAI)

Keywords

• Environmental consultancy
• Marine renewable energy
• Tidal resource assessment
• Offshore wind consulting
• Sustainability advisory

Headquarters

HQ city

Stromness

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Environmental Consultancy Services: Professional consulting services providing strategic planning, project impact assessment, permitting support, and technical expertise to clients in marine, coastal, and land-based sectors.
2. Sustainable Development Services: Services encompassing education, training, carbon management, biodiversity management, and community development for organizations pursuing sustainable practices and decarbonisation goals.
3. Technology Development Support: Technical assistance for technology developers including resource assessment, deployment support, and performance evaluation for marine energy and renewable technology projects.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Aquatera provides environmental and operational consultancy services for marine, coastal, and land-based activities. Its core offering spans strategic planning, option evaluation, project impact assessment and permitting, survey and data management, technology development support, deployment and operations support, performance evaluation, seascape/landscape/visual impact assessment, and sustainable development services including carbon management, biodiversity management, education/training, and community development. The firm complements its consultancy with proprietary tools including the RADMApp GIS-based raster framework and the Global Tidal Database covering 11,000+ sites across 150+ countries.

Product overview

Aquatera provides environmental and operational support services for marine, coastal, and land-based activities. Their product portfolio consists of RADMApp (a GIS-based raster framework for site selection and resource assessment), a Global Tidal Database (covering 11,000+ sites worldwide), downloadable PDF resources and reports, an Aqua-RET e-learning tool for aquatic renewable technology training, and a video library of marine energy deployments. These offerings are complemented by consultancy services spanning strategic planning, project impact assessment, technology development support, deployment and operations support, performance evaluation, biodiversity management, carbon management, and community development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• RADMApp: Aquatera's in-house Resource Analysis and Digital Mapping Application tool - a GIS-based framework for data analysis used as a site selection tool for projects worldwide in many different types of projects and industries.
• Tidal Database

Products and services

• RADMApp (Resource Analysis and Digital Mapping Application) Aquatera's proprietary GIS-based raster framework for data analysis and site selection. Handles 500 million pixels of data per input and output layer, enabling holistic assessment and mapping through a universally comparable system that incorporates planning zones, conservation designations, wind/tide/sun resource data, and social/cultural/economic activity data. Used by marine energy, wind energy, and infrastructure developers worldwide.
• Global Tidal Database Aquatera's proprietary global tidal database providing the most comprehensive compilation of tidal stream, river estuary, and ocean current data currently available. Covers over 11,000 sites across the globe, incorporating over 150 countries and over 100 island locations, with hydrographic information sourced from UKHO, US NGA, NOAA, and electronic navigation charts worldwide.
• Environmental and Project Consultancy Services Comprehensive environmental and technical consultancy services covering the full project lifecycle from strategic planning through permitting, deployment, and operations. Includes strategic planning, option evaluation, project impact assessment and permitting, survey and data management, technology development support, deployment and operations support, performance evaluation and management, and seascape/landscape/visual impact assessment (SLVIA). Serves clients in renewable energy, aquaculture, oil and gas, and infrastructure sectors.
• Sustainable Development Services Sustainable development consultancy encompassing education, training and public awareness; carbon scenario modelling, management and decarbonisation; biodiversity management; community and societal development (including gender equality and social inclusion); and sustainable business and supply chain development. Targeted at organisations pursuing sustainability goals and decarbonisation mandates.
• Aqua-RET E-learning Tool E-learning platform developed by Aquatera as part of the pan-European Aqua-RET project, providing structured training in aquatic renewable technologies. Targeted at learners and professionals seeking education in marine renewable energy.
• Marine Energy Video Library Video library showing deployment of various marine energy devices and performance of support vessels for the marine renewables industry in Orkney, plus additional operational information. Functions as a knowledge resource for marine energy developers and stakeholders.
• Downloadable Brochures and Reports Library of downloadable PDF brochures covering Aquatera's company overview, marine services, onshore services, and topic-specific reports including renewable energy research assessments and marine renewable energy assessments for Chile. Available in English, French, and Spanish.

Quantifiable outcome

• Global tidal database covering 150+ countries
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Orkney Renewable Energy Forum (OREF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry association membership providing networking and collaboration opportunities within Orkney's renewable energy ecosystem. Aquatera participates as a member organization supporting the renewable energy sector in Orkney.
• Oregon Wave Energy TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational industry association membership connecting Aquatera with the North American wave energy sector and knowledge-sharing opportunities.
• Australian Ocean Energy GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMembership in Australian industry association supporting ocean energy sector development and international collaboration.
• Marine Energy WalescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive membership in Wales marine energy industry cluster supporting development of marine energy sector in the Celtic Sea region.
• Celtic Sea ClustercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMembership in industry cluster supporting development of marine energy resources in the Celtic Sea region, facilitating cross-border collaboration.
• Cluster Maritimo de CanariasminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMembership in Canary Islands maritime cluster supporting marine sector development and international connections.
• European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing collaborative relationship described as symbiotic, with Aquatera and EMEC acting as client and supplier to each other in different situations. Aquatera has provided support for technology developers at EMEC's test facilities.
• Aqua-RET ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPan-European project collaboration for which Aquatera helped develop an e-learning tool providing training in aquatic renewable technologies.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• ABPmer: ABPmer is a UK-based marine environmental and engineering consultancy providing EIA, metocean, and consenting support to offshore wind, marine energy, ports, and coastal infrastructure clients. It is one of Aquatera's closest direct competitors in the marine renewables consultancy market.
• Xodus Group: Xodus is an international energy consultancy with deep roots in the UK marine energy and offshore wind ecosystem, providing environmental, engineering, and consenting services. It competes with Aquatera for many of the same marine energy developer and offshore wind clients.
• SMRU Consulting: SMRU Consulting is a marine mammal and environmental consultancy spun out of the University of St Andrews, focused on offshore renewables, oil & gas, and marine construction EIAs. It is a direct competitor for marine renewables consenting and environmental assessment work.
• Anatec: Anatec is a specialist consultancy providing navigational risk assessment, marine EIA, and shipping studies to offshore wind, oil & gas, and marine infrastructure clients. It is comparable to Aquatera in the offshore renewables consenting and shipping risk niche.
• Aqualis Offshore (LOC Group): Aqualis Offshore, part of LOC Group, is a marine and offshore engineering consultancy serving offshore wind, marine energy, and oil & gas clients globally. It overlaps with Aquatera in offshore renewables advisory and engineering support.
• Cathie Associates: Cathie Associates is an offshore geotechnical and engineering consultancy with strong offshore wind and marine energy exposure, including site characterisation and foundation design. It is comparable in serving the same offshore renewables developer client base as Aquatera.

Broad incumbents

• RPS Group (Tetra Tech): RPS, now part of Tetra Tech, is a large global environmental and engineering consultancy with substantial offshore wind, marine consenting, and EIA capability. It competes with Aquatera on larger offshore wind EIA tenders as a broad incumbent rather than a marine energy specialist.
• Mott MacDonald: Mott MacDonald is a global engineering, management, and development consultancy with a significant offshore wind and marine environment practice. It is a broad incumbent competitor for major offshore renewables EIA and consenting commissions.
• WSP: WSP is a global professional services firm with substantial offshore wind, environmental, and climate adaptation capabilities. It is a broad incumbent competitor that competes with Aquatera on large offshore wind EIA and consenting programmes.
• COWI: COWI is an international engineering consultancy with significant offshore wind, marine structures, and environmental services. It serves many of the same offshore wind developer clients as Aquatera, particularly in Northern Europe, as a broad incumbent.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AquateraLtd

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Aquatera