Planning and authorization procedure for offshore

wind projects in Germany

Nico Nolte, 07.10.2020

OFATE/DFBEW
 Political and legal framework

• Windenergy at Sea-Act: target is 15.000 MW offshore

wind energy by 2030 in the EEZ and the territorial sea
• Amendment in parliament: 20.000 MW by 2030

• Renewable Energy Act:

65 % of the electricity supply must be generated from
renewable energy sources by 2030 ; min. 80% by 2050
• 2019: ca. 41 %

• Amendment of the Act in preparation: Greenhousegas

neutral production of electricity by 2050

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Offshore wind – Status quo in the EEZ (30 June 2020)

Offshore Windfarms

• North Sea:
21 farms in operation

• Ostsee:
3 farms in operation

More than 1400 turbines with 7,2 GW

plus 3 OWF in the territorial sea:
altogether 1.501 turbines with 7,7 GW

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System of planning instruments

site
maritime spatial site development investigations/
project approval
plan plan suitability
assessment

increasing level of spatial and technical detail

SUP SUP
Dr. Kai Trümpler, 09.06.2020SUP UVP/ UP 4
Central System

BSH
Maritime Spatial Planning (EEZ)
BSH

Commissioned
Site Development Plan

BMWI/BNetzA
BSH
Site investigation (EEZ)

by
BSH
Assessment of suitability (EEZ)
BNetzA
Tendering of sites
Developer
Application for plan approval (EEZ)
BSH
Planning approval for projects (EEZ)

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Maritime Spatial Plan for EEZ (North Sea)

First instrument of
spatial management of
different uses in 2009:
• Priority areas for
shipping, pipelines and
offshore wind energy
• No wind turbines in
Natura 2000 areas
• Targets and planning
principles
• First guidelines for cable
routing
• Clarity for investors and
stakeholders

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Titel, XXXX 201X 7
Site investigation by the government (BSH)
Essential steps
• Gathering of information on the specific site
• Evaluating the suitability of the specific site for public tendering to ascertain
that no relevant matters conflicting with the operation of wind turbines are
likely.

Scope
• Marine environment investigations for Environmental Impact Study
 WindSeeG: StUK (Standard Investigation of Impacts)
• Geotechnical surveys of sea bottom
 WindSeeG: geotechnical survey standard (Standard Ground Invest.)
• Wind- and oceanographic conditions
 WindSeeG: only reports; no guarantee for wind conditions

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In case of succesful auction:
Application for Planning Approval

Environmental Impact Study

Design Basis (according to Standard „Design of OWT“)

Preliminary Draft of Installation Structure (according to

Standard „Design of OWT“)

Technical Risk Analysis & Prognosis on the hull-retaining

configuration of the substructure of the foundations

Results from site investigations serve as basis for application

documents
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Wind Energy at Sea Act (WindSeeG)

Planning Approval required

A plan may be only approved if there is:

• no threat to the marine environment (i.a. Habitat and Birds Directives)

• no threat to safety or efficiency of shipping
• no threat to national or allied defence
• other public law requirements (such as Maritime Spatial Plan)

Positive:
‒ concentrating effect, no other public law licenses are necessary (all
licenses are concentrated within one license – one stop shop)
‒ balancing of interests (fishery, sand and gravel, ...)

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Example:
Noise reduction during construction

Source: EON

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 BSH Standards (Minimum requirements)

Standard Investigation of the Impacts of Offshore

Wind Turbines on the Marine Environment (StUK)

• 4th edition of October 2013

• Requirements for the baseline surveys for the
Environemtal Impact Study as well as for the
monitoring during construction and operation

http://www.bsh.de/en/Products/Books/Standard/index.jsp

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BSH Standards (Minimum requirements)

Standard Ground Investigations for Offshore

Wind Farms
• update February 2014
• geotechnical and geophysical requirements

Standard Design of Offshore Wind Turbines

• update July 2015
• Minimum Requirements for the construction and
certification of constructional components of an
offshore windfarm

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Thank you!

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