BioConsult SH

What BioConsult SH does

BioConsult SH GmbH & Co. KG is a privately held German ecological research and consulting firm headquartered in Husum, Schleswig-Holstein, founded in 1998 by Dr. Georg Nehls as a three-person office and grown to 160+ employees across Husum, Hamburg, and (since January 2025) Kiel via the MariLim acquisition. The firm delivers environmental impact assessments, species protection reports (including FFH assessments), ecological construction supervision, and expert reports to onshore and offshore wind developers, transport and marine infrastructure clients, federal and state government agencies, and NGOs such as WWF Germany. Its primary revenue drivers are project-based professional services fees won through direct enterprise sales and competitive tenders, complemented by government-funded research contracts from federal ministries (BMWi, BMU, BfN) and agencies such as the German Environment Agency (UBA).

The company's core technology stack rests on three proprietary or JV-controlled capabilities: the HiDef high-resolution digital video aerial survey system for marine birds and mammals (acquired 2016 via HiDef Aerial Surveying Ltd), the AVES AI-based species-level bird detection and identification system (commercialized through the November 2021 ProTecBird GmbH joint venture with Protectis Air), and the probabilistic Raumnutzungs-Kollisionsrisikomodell for habitat-use and collision-risk assessment (commercialized through the PredictBird GmbH joint venture). BioConsult SH also develops drone-based remote sensing and AI image analysis in cooperation with DFKI, including an Arctic beach-litter monitoring project, and operates vertical-radar-based nocturnal bird migration monitoring (ProBird). The firm's research output includes the PROGRESS (2011–2015) and VISSKA (2021–2023) projects, which underpin accepted industry collision-risk benchmarks such as the cited 99.8% bird avoidance rates and 0.0016–0.002% collision risk figures at offshore wind farms.

BioConsult SH monetizes these capabilities through B2B professional services engagements — environmental consulting, expert reports, ecological monitoring and construction supervision — sold directly by managing directors and senior team leads and won through competitive tendering for both private enterprise (notably RWE Renewables and other wind-energy developers) and public-sector research programs. Revenue mechanics are services-led with project-based fees; pricing is not publicly disclosed. The firm operates within the Alliance for Nature alongside French shareholder Biotope SAS (since 2022) and UK subsidiary HiDef, forming a roughly 800-employee pan-European ecological services group. The firm is led by managing directors Dr. Georg Nehls (founder) and Dr. Thilo Liesenjohann, and holds TÜV Nord certifications for ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, and ISO 45001:2023.

Name

BioConsult SH

Legal name

BioConsult SH GmbH & Co. KG

Website

https://bioconsult-sh.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

BioConsult SH is a German ecological research and consulting firm founded in 1998, serving wind energy developers, infrastructure clients, and public agencies with environmental impact assessments, species protection reports, and AI-enhanced wildlife monitoring across onshore, coastal, and offshore environments.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Husum

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Revenue model

1. Environmental Consulting Services: Expert environmental reports, species protection reports, FFH assessments, and environmental impact studies for private and public clients. Revenue from service fees for environmental planning, ecological assessments, and field surveys.
2. Government-funded Research Projects: Ecological environmental research projects funded by federal ministries (BMWi, BMU, BfN) and institutions. Includes national and international projects for biological baseline data collection and method development.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

BioConsult SH is an ecological research and consulting firm delivering environmental assessments, species protection reports, FFH suitability evaluations, and ecological monitoring for renewable energy (especially wind) and infrastructure projects. Their services span onshore, coastal, and offshore environments and include field surveys, environmental construction supervision, AI-enhanced bird detection systems, and collision risk modeling for wind turbine approvals.

Product overview

BioConsult SH is an ecological research and consulting company offering a portfolio of environmental services, research projects, and AI-enhanced technologies for wildlife monitoring and wind energy environmental assessment. The core offerings include environmental planning and consulting services (expert reports, FFH assessments, environmental impact studies), ecological field research, and specialized monitoring technologies. Key technology products include: (1) AVES – an AI-based bird detection system developed through joint venture ProTecBird for automatic bird identification to prevent wind turbine collisions; (2) PredictBird – a habitat use-collision risk assessment tool developed through joint venture for wind turbine approval processes; (3) the Raumnutzungs-Kollisionsrisikomodell – a probabilistic collision risk model combining habitat use data with turbine collision calculations; (4) AI-powered drone-based beach litter detection for Arctic marine monitoring; and (5) HiDef high-resolution aerial video systems for marine bird and mammal surveys. Services span onshore, coastal, and offshore environments with capabilities including environmental construction supervision, species surveys, passive acoustic monitoring (C-PODs), drone surveys, and research projects like PROGRESS (collision risk), VISSKA (vibratory pile driving impacts), and SPACEWHALE (marine mammals). The company operates as both a service provider and technology developer, with strategic partnerships through Alliance for Nature, HiDef, Biotope, and MariLim forming a European ecological services group.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AVES: Solutions for safety and bird protection at wind energy facilities.
• SPACEWHALE
• APIS

Products and services

• Environmental Construction Supervision (Ökologische Baubegleitung) Ecological construction supervision ensuring compliance with nature conservation requirements during construction projects. Includes species protection, surface/soil protection, habitat conservation, and restoration monitoring for energy and infrastructure developers.
• Expert Reports and Investigation Concepts (Gutachten) Environmental expert reports, species protection assessments, FFH evaluations, and environmental impact studies prepared for infrastructure and energy project approvals.
• Flora and Fauna Surveys (Erfassungen Flora und Fauna) Comprehensive ecological surveys including breeding bird surveys, species population assessments, habitat mapping, and biodiversity documentation for public and private clients.
• Offshore Environmental Monitoring Environmental monitoring services for offshore wind farms and marine construction projects, including marine mammal and bird surveys, noise monitoring, and habitat assessment in the North Sea and Baltic Sea.
• Bat Height Monitoring for Wind Energy Specialized monitoring of bat activity at wind turbine heights to assess collision risks and inform operational mitigation measures for wind energy projects.
• Remote Sensing and Drone Surveys

Quantifiable outcome

• 99.8% bird avoidance rates at offshore wind farms measured in German studies
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability7 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• MariLim Aquatic Research GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Founded in 1993, marine and freshwater ecology consultancy in Kiel. Became part of BioConsult SH on January 1st, 2025. Provides services for offshore wind farm environmental studies and marine nature conservation.
• Biotope SAScoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022French ecological survey company, leading provider in France with 30 offices. Became shareholder of BioConsult SH in 2022. Together with HiDef Aerial Surveying Ltd, forms a group with nearly 800 employees. Merger strengthens BioConsult SH's position in Europe and international market for ecological studies.
• ProTecBird GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2021Joint venture between BioConsult SH and Protectis Air founded November 2021. Specializes in species and environmental protection related to birds. Develops AVES system for automatic bird detection and identification using AI to avoid collisions with wind turbines.
• HiDef Aerial Surveying LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2016English company specializing in high-resolution digital video aerial surveys for marine birds and mammals. Part of BioConsult SH family since August 2016. Merger combines long-standing experience in aerial surveys and ecological marine research.
• PredictBird GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture between BioConsult SH, Bionum, TNL, and TB Raab. Assesses habitat use and collision risk for vulnerable breeding bird species in wind turbine approval processes. Uses habitat use-collision risk model for predictions.
• Alliance for NatureminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational company network. BioConsult SH is a member utilizing synergies to work together on local, national and international projects. Members cover wide range of expertise in ecological data collection and analysis.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• MariLim Aquatic Research GmbH: Founded in 1993 in Kiel, Germany, this marine and freshwater ecology consultancy became part of BioConsult SH on January 1, 2025. Provides offshore wind farm environmental studies and marine nature conservation—directly comparable to BioConsult SH's marine ecology service line.
• Bureau Waardenburg: Independent Dutch ecological consultancy with deep experience in bird surveys, bat monitoring, and species protection assessments for Dutch wind energy projects. Direct regional competitor to BioConsult SH on Dutch and broader Northwest European wind environmental assessments.
• Natural Power Consultants: UK-headquartered renewable energy consultancy with a substantial ecological and environmental planning practice serving onshore and offshore wind developers. Direct competitor for North Sea/UK offshore wind environmental impact and collision risk assessment work, and a natural alternative on EU tenders.
• SLR Consulting: Global environmental and advisory consultancy with a deep renewable energy ecological practice (including bird and bat survey, habitat assessment, and EIA) serving wind developers across Europe and North America. Direct mid-market peer in terms of service portfolio and customer base.
• APEM Ltd: UK-based ecological and aquatic environmental consultancy acquired by Marlowe plc in 2021. Specializes in bird, marine ecology, and ecological impact surveys with extensive wind energy and infrastructure project experience; direct European competitor to BioConsult SH on offshore environmental work.
• HiDef Aerial Surveying Ltd: UK-based high-resolution digital video aerial survey company wholly owned by BioConsult SH since August 2016. Provides the marine bird and mammal aerial survey technology central to BioConsult SH's offshore environmental service line—operationally integrated and serving overlapping markets.
• Biotope SAS: French ecological consultancy with 30 offices; became a minority shareholder of BioConsult SH in 2022 and forms the core of the Alliance for Nature. Operates the same B2B B2B environmental impact assessment / species protection report model for renewable energy and infrastructure clients, and competes directly with BioConsult in international tenders outside Germany.

Broad incumbents

• DNV: Norwegian-headquartered assurance and consultancy firm with a dedicated offshore wind advisory practice covering environmental, consenting, and certification work. A much larger incumbent with overlapping energy-project environmental capabilities rather than a specialized ecological niche player.
• COWI Group: Danish-headquartered engineering and environmental consultancy with significant offshore wind environmental impact assessment and marine ecology capability. Larger incumbent serving wind developers with overlap on EIA and permitting work.
• Royal HaskoningDHV: Dutch multi-disciplinary engineering and environmental consultancy with a meaningful offshore wind environmental practice (notably supporting Dutch/UK offshore wind EIA work). A larger incumbent offering overlapping capabilities as part of broader marine, energy, and infrastructure portfolio rather than a specialized ecological niche.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bioconsult-sh-gmbh

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries4 records

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 BioConsult SH