The first of four workshops planned under the SOWFIA project, asking those directly working on the development of the wave energy industry to share their views on the challenges they face and the way forward. The overall goal of the SOWFIA project is to provide recommendations for approval process streamlining and European-wide streamlining of IA processes, thereby helping to remove legal, environmental and socio-economic barriers to the development of offshore power generation from waves. This meeting coincided with the RenewableUK's Annual Conference and Exhibition. I was invited to attend by the organisers in order to represent SAMS' expertise in studying potential environmental impacts.