Legal Framework for Construction and EIA for Offshore...

Legal Framework for Construction and EIA for Offshore Windfarms in Germany

Seminar on EIA, 21. - 22. May 2013, RigaAnika Beiersdorf , BSH

Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency Bundesamt für Seeschiffahrt und Hydrographie

29.05.2013 Christian Dahlke, Leiter Referat Ordnung des Meeres 2

Topics

• Introduction

• Offshore Activities in the North and Baltic Sea

• Maritime Spatial Planning

• Offshore Grid Plan

• Approval Process for Offshore Wind Turbines

• Standards for EIA

• Noise Mitigation Measures

Legal Framework of EIA Anika Beiersdorf, BSH


Area of Responsibility:German Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)


Baltic Sea : 4.500 km²North Sea : 28.600 km²


North SeaPermits granted: 26Permits applied for: 81

Baltic SeaPermits granted: 3Permits applied for: 17 Projects in total: 129

Offshore Windfarm Applications



North Sea: Offshore Activities 2012/13



Construction Freeze due to Missing Grid Connection

© trianel

© trianel

© tennet

© tennet


40 foundations installed at „Borkum West 2“ (March 2012),turbines attached in summer 2013.

Converter platform „Borwin alpha“ waiting for topside (since October 2012).


Maritime Spatial Planning

Since 2009, Maritime Spatial Plan for the EEZ of the North and Baltic Sea:

• Priority areas for offshore wind energy (red)

• No windfarms in Natura 2000 areas

• Gates for submarine cables



Offshore Grid Plan (2012): North Sea


Gate CableI (Ems) 3II (Norderney) 10III (Europipe 2) 7IV (Büsum) 6

Planning Horizon 2030: Approx. 21 GW

Planning Horizon 2022 : Approx. 11,7 GW


Offshore Grid Plan (2013): Baltic Sea (draft)

First Consultation 23. April 2013,Rostock



Legal Basis for Approval Procedures in the German EEZ

Marine Facilities Ordinance (Seeanlagenverordnung):

Art. 2 : Installation and operation of offshore wind turbines require planning approval

Reasons for denial of an approval:

• Threat to the marine environment/bird migration

• Threat to safety of shipping traffic

• Threat to national or allied defence

• Other requisitions


Other overriding public interests:

• Mining activities

• Fishery

• Military interests

• Energy supply (cables or pipelines)

• ...


Application Documents

• Application containing the analysis of public and private interests

• Environmental Impact Assessment study

• Technical risk analysis about the probability of a ship/wind turbine-collision

• Design basis and preliminary draft of the installation structure (according to standard „Design of OWT“)

• Prognosis on the hull-retaining configuration of the substructure of the foundations


Standard Ground Investigations for OWP (2003)

Standard Design of Offshore Wind Turbines (2007)

Standard for EIA (2007)


Approval Process

Approval procedure for offshore installations in th e EEZ:

• Project application

• 1st round of participation: Small circle of authorities

• 2nd round of participation: Broader circle including several NGOs and associations � Application Conference (Scoping)

• 3rd round of participation: As 2nd round with participation of neighbouring states � EIA-Hearing

• Decision



Standard Contents of an Approval

• Time-limit for start of construction to avoid occup ation of space

• Limitation of the operation to 25 years

• Use of environmentally friendly substances, non-reflecting coating

• Threshold on noise impact, requirement for noise mi tigation measures (No 14)

• Ecological monitoring during construction and opera tion (No 11)

• Shut down of turbines in case of strong bird migrat ion (No 21)

• Requirement for “collision-friendly” foundations

• Design requirements (plausibility check, 1st, 2nd and 3rd “release”)

• Requirement for safety concept (HSE-Concept)

• Requirements regarding the safety equipment (including nautical lights and AIS)

• Duty to deconstruction and financial security for safeguarding the costs of deconstruction



Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

Assessment of the marine environment:

• Intensive investigations of the features of the project area before approval

• Monitoring program (several years) during construction and operation


Threat to the marine environment?

• EIA Regulation

• EU Birds and Habitats Directive (Federal Nature Conservation Act)

� Species protection

� Biotope protection

� Site protection

• No Impact Regulation („Eingriffsregelung“) for OWP

29.05.2013 Christian Dahlke, Leiter Referat Ordnung des Meeres 15Anika Beiersdorf, BSH

Standard for „Investigation of the Impacts of Offshore W ind Turbines on the Marine Environment (StUK3)“

• Sets requirements for the investigations before, during construction and during operation

• Compliance with the standard during construction and operation of the windfarm isobligatory for permit holders

Defines monitoring concepts for:

• Benthos

• Fish

• Resting and migrating birds

• Marine mammals (incl. underwater noise)

• Bats

• Landscape Scenery

Standard Monitoring Program


Under Discussion: Impact Pile Driving



Noise Mitigation Concept:

• Report on background noise in the construction area

• Emission forecast for construction period

• Use of acoustic deterrents

• Use of soft start method

• Use of noise mitigating work methods

• Monitoring of deterrence and mitigation measures

• Noise measurements and reporting at short notice (during construction period)

� Sound Exposure Level (SEL) must not exceed 160 dB (re 1 µPa) outside of a circleof 750 m radius and the Peak Level (Lpeak) must not exceed 190 dB (thresholdformulated by Federal Environmental Agency (UBA)).

Mitigation Measures for Marine Mammals



Noise Mitigation Measures: Bubble Curtains

Small Bubble Curtainat alpha ventus

Big Bubble Curtainat Borkum West-II

Small Bubble Curtainat BARD Offhore 1



2011: ESRa-test by Siemens in the Baltic Sea

Noise Mitigation Measures: Coffer Dam


IHC NMS at Riffgat


Thank you for your attention!


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Legal Framework for Construction and EIA for Offshore...

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