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
29.05.2013 Christian Dahlke, Leiter Referat Ordnung des Meeres 3
Area of Responsibility:German Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)
Legal Framework of EIA Anika Beiersdorf, BSH
Baltic Sea : 4.500 km²North Sea : 28.600 km²
29.05.2013 Christian Dahlke, Leiter Referat Ordnung des Meeres 4
North SeaPermits granted: 26Permits applied for: 81
Baltic SeaPermits granted: 3Permits applied for: 17 Projects in total: 129
Offshore Windfarm Applications
Legal Framework of EIA Anika Beiersdorf, BSH
29.05.2013 Christian Dahlke, Leiter Referat Ordnung des Meeres 5
North Sea: Offshore Activities 2012/13
Legal Framework of EIA Anika Beiersdorf, BSH
29.05.2013 Christian Dahlke, Leiter Referat Ordnung des Meeres 6
Construction Freeze due to Missing Grid Connection
© trianel
© trianel
© tennet
© tennet
Legal Framework of EIA Anika Beiersdorf, BSH
40 foundations installed at „Borkum West 2“ (March 2012),turbines attached in summer 2013.
Converter platform „Borwin alpha“ waiting for topside (since October 2012).
29.05.2013 Christian Dahlke, Leiter Referat Ordnung des Meeres 7
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
Legal Framework of EIA Anika Beiersdorf, BSH
29.05.2013 Christian Dahlke, Leiter Referat Ordnung des Meeres 8
Offshore Grid Plan (2012): North Sea
Legal Framework of EIA Anika Beiersdorf, BSH
Gate CableI (Ems) 3II (Norderney) 10III (Europipe 2) 7IV (Büsum) 6
Planning Horizon 2030: Approx. 21 GW
Planning Horizon 2022 : Approx. 11,7 GW
29.05.2013 Christian Dahlke, Leiter Referat Ordnung des Meeres 9
Offshore Grid Plan (2013): Baltic Sea (draft)
First Consultation 23. April 2013,Rostock
Legal Framework of EIA Anika Beiersdorf, BSH
29.05.2013 Christian Dahlke, Leiter Referat Ordnung des Meeres 10
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
Legal Framework of EIA Anika Beiersdorf, BSH
Other overriding public interests:
• Mining activities
• Fishery
• Military interests
• Energy supply (cables or pipelines)
• ...
29.05.2013 Christian Dahlke, Leiter Referat Ordnung des Meeres 11
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
Legal Framework of EIA Anika Beiersdorf, BSH
Standard Ground Investigations for OWP (2003)
Standard Design of Offshore Wind Turbines (2007)
Standard for EIA (2007)
29.05.2013 Christian Dahlke, Leiter Referat Ordnung des Meeres 12
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
Legal Framework of EIA Anika Beiersdorf, BSH
29.05.2013 Christian Dahlke, Leiter Referat Ordnung des Meeres 13
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
Legal Framework of EIA Anika Beiersdorf, BSH
29.05.2013 Christian Dahlke, Leiter Referat Ordnung des Meeres 14
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
Legal Framework of EIA Anika Beiersdorf, BSH
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
29.05.2013 Christian Dahlke, Leiter Referat Ordnung des Meeres 16
Under Discussion: Impact Pile Driving
Legal Framework of EIA Anika Beiersdorf, BSH
29.05.2013 Christian Dahlke, Leiter Referat Ordnung des Meeres 17
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
Legal Framework of EIA Anika Beiersdorf, BSH
29.05.2013 Christian Dahlke, Leiter Referat Ordnung des Meeres 18
Noise Mitigation Measures: Bubble Curtains
Small Bubble Curtainat alpha ventus
Big Bubble Curtainat Borkum West-II
Small Bubble Curtainat BARD Offhore 1
Legal Framework of EIA Anika Beiersdorf, BSH
29.05.2013 Christian Dahlke, Leiter Referat Ordnung des Meeres 19
2011: ESRa-test by Siemens in the Baltic Sea
Noise Mitigation Measures: Coffer Dam
Legal Framework of EIA Anika Beiersdorf, BSH
IHC NMS at Riffgat
29.05.2013 Christian Dahlke, Leiter Referat Ordnung des Meeres 20
Thank you for your attention!
Legal Framework of EIA Anika Beiersdorf, BSH
www.bsh.de
Homepage:http://www.bsh.de/[email protected]