Draft Site Development Plan 2019 for the North and Baltic Sea
Hamburg, 26. October 2018
Photos: 50 Hertz, BSH Content I
Content
1 Introduction 1 1.1 The Central Model 1 1.2 Statutory basis of the Site Development Plan 1 1.3 Purpose and goals of the Site Development Plan 2 1.4 Subject of the Site Development Plan 3 2 Process for the expansion of offshore wind energy 4 2.1 Site Development Plan 5 2.1.1 Responsibility 5 2.1.2 Initial schedule 5 2.1.3 Update 5 2.1.4 Coordination requirements 6 2.1.5 Consensus requirement 6 2.2 Investigation of sites 6 2.3 Call for tenders 7 2.4 Planning approval 8 2.5 Interfaces with other instruments of network planning 9 2.5.1 Scenario framework 9 2.5.2 Network development plan 9 2.5.3 Federal requirement plan 10 2.5.4 Ten-Year Network Development Plan 10 2.5.5 Federal network plan 11 2.6 Existing spatial planning and planning 11 2.6.1 Exclusive Economic Zone 12 2.6.2 Lower Saxony 12 2.6.3 Schleswig-Holstein 12 2.6.4 Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania 12 3 Starting Position 13 3.1 Current state of the expansion 13 3.2 Legislative trajectory of offshore wind energy 16 3.3 Increased expansion trajectory of the scenario framework 2019- II Content
2030 16 4 Guidelines and Basic Principles 17 4.1 Introduction 17 4.2 Connection concepts 17 4.2.1 Standard concept North Sea: DC system 17 4.2.2 Standard concept Baltic Sea: Three-phase system 18 4.3 Standardised technical principles 18 4.3.1 DC system North Sea 18 4.3.2 Three-phase system Baltic Sea 18 4.3.3 Cross-connections between converter/transformer platforms 18 4.3.4 Cross-border cables 18 4.4 Planning principles 19 4.4.1 General principles 19 4.4.2 Noise mitigation 20 4.4.3 Offshore sites and offshore wind turbines 21 4.4.4 Platforms 21 4.4.5 Subsea cable systems 22 4.5 Possible deviations 23 4.5.1 Standardised technical principles 23 4.5.2 Planning principles 23 4.6 Planning horizon 24 4.7 Determination of expected generation capacity 24 4.7.1 Aim of the power output determination 24 4.7.2 Methodology of the power output determination in Zone 1 and 2 24 4.7.3 Criteria for determining power output 24 4.7.4 Power density to be applied 26 4.7.5 Determination of expected generation capacity in zone 3 27 4.8 Criteria for determining the sites and the chronological sequence of their call for tenders 28 4.8.1 Methodology for the application of the criteria 28 4.8.2 Description of the criteria to be applied 28 5 Rules 30 5.1 Areas for the installation and operation of offshore wind turbines 30 Content III
5.2 Sites for the installation and operation of offshore wind turbines 33 5.2.1 Rules of sites 33 5.2.2 Significant criteria for the decision concerning the stipulation of the areas 37 5.3 Expected generation capacity 38 5.4 Rules for coastal waters 39 5.4.1 Requirement for an administrative agreement 39 5.4.2 Areas for the installation and operation of offshore wind turbines 39 5.4.3 Sites for the installation and operation of offshore wind turbines 39 5.4.4 Calendar year of commissioning of the offshore wind turbines and the corresponding connection cables 39 5.4.5 Expected generation capacity 39 5.5 Chronological sequence of tenders for the sites 40 5.5.1 Chronological sequence of tenders for the sites 40 5.5.2 Representation of the review of the chronological sequence based on references to offshore connecting cables, grid connection points and the network expansion on land 40 5.6 Calendar year of the commissioning for offshore wind turbines and connecting cables 41 5.7 Locations of converter platforms, collector platforms and transformer platforms 41 5.8 Routes or route corridors for offshore connecting cables 41 5.9 Gates to coastal waters 41 5.9.1 Current state 41 5.9.2 Rules of gates to coastal waters 41 5.10 Routes and route corridors for cross-border cables (interconnectors) 42 5.10.1 Current state 42 5.10.2 Rule of routes and route corridors for cross-border cables (interconnectors) 42 5.10.3 Rules of gates for cross-border cables (interconnectors) 43 5.11 For cross-connections between converter/transformer platforms 44 6 Rules for pilot offshore wind turbines 45 6.1 Available grid connection capacities 45 6.2 Spatial specifications 45 IV Content
6.3 Technical conditions and prerequisites for grid connection 45 7 Conformity of the rules with private and public concerns 46 7.1 Legal grounds for exclusion 46 7.1.1 Compliance with requirements of spatial planning 46 7.1.2 No risk to the marine environment 47 7.1.3 No negative impact on safety or ease of traffic 47 7.1.4 No impairment of the security of national and Alliance defence 48 7.1.5 No location in legally designated protected area 48 7.1.6 No location outside areas and sites designated in BFO clusters or by coastal states 48 7.2 Other public and private interests 48 7.3 Prevention of the occurrence of the exclusion criteria through planning principles 49 7.4 Admissibility of the rule of areas 51 7.5 Admissibility of the rule of sites 52 7.6 Admissibility of other rules 53 8 Summary consideration 55 9 Summary environmental statement 56 10 Appendices: maps (for information) 57 11 Bibliography 61 12 Annex: Informational illustration of an increased development path (scenario framework 2019-2030) 63 12.1 Scenarios B 2030 and C 2030 (17 GW by 2030) 64 12.2 Scenario A 2030 (20 GW by 2030) 65 12.3 Scenario B 2035 (23.2 GW by 2035) 66 12.4 Connecting lines that may be required for the scenarios 67
Content V
List of figures
Figure 1: The Site Development Plan in the overall system of the central model for the sector of the German EEZ of the North Sea and Baltic Sea ...... 4 Figure 2: Planning process of the Site Development Plan and strategic environmental assessment ...... 5 Figure 3: Stages for the site investigations ...... 6 Figure 4: Offshore wind farms in the German EEZ of the North Sea which will most likely be in operation by the end of 2025 ...... 15 Figure 5: Offshore wind farms in the German EEZ of the Baltic Sea which will most likely be in operation by the end of 2025 ...... 15 Figure 6: Schematic representation of the methodology for power output determination ...... 24 Figure 7: Power density of offshore wind farms in the German North Sea and Baltic Sea depending on their geometry ...... 25 Figure 8: Mean wind speed [m/s] at 116 m height for COSMO−REA6 between 1995 and 2014 (Source: DWD) ...... 25 Figure 9: Distribution of wind speed at 90 m height of FINO 1, FINO 2 and FINO 3 2009-2014 (Borsche, Kaiser-Weiss, & Kaspar, 2016) ...... 25 Figure 10: Long-term wind direction distribution in the North Sea (left: FINO 1, 90 m height) and in the Baltic Sea (right: FINO 2, 92 m height) (Source: Fraunhofer IWES) ...... 25 Figure 11: Exemplary application of criterion 2 for assessing the degree of shading from neighbouring wind farms ...... 25 Figure 12: Specific output power of wind turbines in European wind farms (Borrmann, Rehfeldt, Wallasch, & Lüers, 2018) ...... 26 Figure 13: Power density of implemented and planned wind farms already awarded or with allocated grid connection in the North Sea and Baltic Sea ...... 26 Figure 14: Corrected power output of European offshore wind farms (Borrmann, Rehfeldt, Wallasch, & Lüers, 2018) ...... 27 Figure 15: German North Sea depicting the distance zones of the O-NDP ...... 28 Figure 16: German Baltic Sea depicting the distance zones of the O-NDP ...... 29 Figure 17: Areas of the German EEZ of the North Sea ...... 31 Figure 18: Areas of the German EEZ of the Baltic Sea ...... 31 Figure 19: Sites of the German EEZ of the North Sea ...... 34 Figure 20: Sites in the areas N-3, N-6, N-7 and N-9 in the German EEZ in the North Sea ...... 35 Figure 21: Sites of the German EEZ of the Baltic Sea ...... 36 Figure 22: Areas and sites in coastal waters initially submitted for possible nomination by Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, subject to the conclusion of an administrative agreement ...... 39 VI Content
Figure 24: Shipping routes in the North Sea EEZ Spatial Plan ...... 57 Figure 25: Shipping routes in the Baltic Sea EEZ Spatial Plan ...... 57 Figure 26: Designations: subsea cables, pipelines, traffic separation areas (North Sea) ...... 58 Figure 27: Designations: subsea cables, pipelines, traffic separation areas (Baltic Sea) ...... 58 Figure 28: National defence territories (North Sea) ...... 59 Figure 29: National defence territories (Baltic Sea) ...... 59 Figure 30: Areas for the construction and operation of offshore wind turbines in the German North Sea EEZ and nature conservation areas...... 60 Figure 31: Areas for the construction and operation of offshore wind turbines in the German Baltic Sea EEZ and nature conservation areas ...... 60 Figure 32: Informational figure of possible rules according to scenarios B and C 2030 (17 GW by 2030) and challenges to be overcome...... 64 Figure 33: Informational figure of possible rules according to scenario A 2030 (20 GW by 2030) and challenges to be overcome ...... 65 Figure 34: Informational figure of possible rules according to scenario B 2035 (23.2 GW by 2035) and challenges to be overcome ...... 66
Content VII
List of tables
Table 1: Overview of offshore connecting cables by the end of 2025 and connected offshore wind farm projects ...... 14 Table 2: Categorisation of the sites for determining the expected generation capacity ...... 26 Table 3: Exemplary comparison of (corrected) power densities for two offshore wind farms ...... 27 Table 4: Grid connection systems including commissioning by the end of 2025 and available transmission capacity ...... 28 Table 6: Overview of sites for offshore wind energy ...... 33 Table 7: Overview of significant criteria for the decision against rule of an area ...... 37 Table 8: Overview of expected generation capacity in the sites for offshore wind turbines ...... 38 Table 9: Overview of the chronological sequence of tenders for the sites with the application of criteria 1 to 8 ...... 40 Table 10: Overview of the information concerning offshore connecting cables with a commissioning date from 2026 onwards by the TSO according to the statement dated 15 June 2018 ...... 40 Table 11: Overview of calendar years of commissioning of offshore connecting cables, on acceptance of the notes provided in chapter 5.5 ...... 41 Table 12: Overview of utilisation of gates ...... 41 Table 13: Overview of the gates and routes for cross-border power lines as defined in the Site Development Plan ...... 44 Table 14: Overview of the routes defined in the Site Development Plan for connections between systems ...... 44 Table 15: Grid connection capacities available for pilot offshore wind turbines ...... 45 Table 19: Overview of the commissioning years which may be necessary for the offshore connecting lines in the various scenarios ...... 67
VIII Content
List of abbreviations
AC Alternating current AIS Data Data from the automatic identification system in shipping EEZ Exclusive Economic Zone EEZ North Sea Regulation concerning spatial planning in the German exclusive economic zone ROV in the North Sea EEZ Baltic Sea Regulation concerning spatial planning in the German exclusive economic zone ROV in the Baltic Sea BAW Federal Waterways Engineering and Research Institute BfN Federal Agency for Nature Conservation BFO Spatial Offshore Grid Plan BFO-N Spatial Offshore Grid Plan North Sea BFO-O Spatial Offshore Grid Plan Baltic Sea BGBI Federal Law Gazette BImSchG Act concerning the protection from harmful environmental impacts through air pollution, noise, vibrations and similar events (Federal Immission Control Act) BKG Federal Agency for Cartography and Geodesy BMI Federal Ministry of the Interior, for Construction and Homeland BMU Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety BMVBS Federal Ministry for Transport, Building and Urban Development BMVI Federal Ministry for Transport and Digital Infrastructure BMWi Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy BNatSchG Act concerning nature conservation and landscape management (Federal Nature Conservation Act) BNetzA Federal Network Agency for Electricity, Gas, Telecommunications, Post and Railway BSH Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency DC Direct current DRU Diode rectifier unit DWD German Meteorological Service EEA European Environmental Agency EEG Act concerning the development of renewable energy (German Renewable Energy Act) EIS Environmental impact study ENTSO-E European network of transmission system operators for electricity EnWG Act concerning electricity and gas supply (German Energy Act) ESCA European Subsea Cables Association R&D Research and Development FEP Site Development Plan FFH Flora Fauna Habitat GDWS Directorate General for Navigation and Waterways GW Gigawatt HELCOM Helsinki Commission HVDC High-voltage DC transmission ICES International Council for the Exploration of the Sea Content IX
ICPC International Cable Protection Committee kV Kilovolt LEP S-H State Development Plan Schleswig-Holstein LEP M-V State Spatial Development Programme of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania LROP State spatial planning program of Lower Saxony MARNET Automated monitoring network of stations in the German Bight and western Baltic Sea MI Cable Paper and oil insulated ground cable MSRL Directive 2008/56/EC of the European Parliament and the Council dated 17 June 2008 for the establishment of a Framework for Community Action in the field of Marine Environment (Marine Strategy Framework Directive) MW Megawatt n.s. not stated NABEG Network expansion acceleration act for transmission network NDP Network development plan NfS Notice to mariners n.m. Nautical mile NVP Grid connection point O-NDP Offshore network development plan OSPAR Oslo-Paris Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North- East Atlantic POD Stations Porpoise click detector stations ROG Spatial Planning Act SeeAnlG Offshore Installations Act SeeAnlV Ordinance concerning offshore installations for defining German coastal waters (Offshore Installations Ordinance) SeeAufgG Act concerning the responsibilities of the State with respect to maritime navigation (Federal Maritime Responsibilities Act) SEL Sound event level SPL p-p Peak emission sound pressure level (peak-peak) UNCLOS United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea StUK4 Standard "Investigation into the impacts of offshore wind turbines (StUK4)" SEA Strategic environmental assessment TYNDP Ten-Year Network Development Plan TSO Transmission system operator UBA German Environment Agency UVPG Environmental Impact Assessment Act VSC Voltage sourced converter VS-RL Conservation of Wild Birds Directive VTG Traffic separation scheme VwVfG Administrative Procedure Act WEA Wind turbine WFS Web Feature Service WHG Act for regulating water resources (Water Resources Act)
WindSeeG Act concerning the development and promotion of offshore wind energy (Offshore X Content
Wind Energy Act) WMS Web Map Service Introduction 1
1 Introduction The current Spatial Offshore Grid Plan (BFO) of the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency 1.1 The Central Model for the EEZ of the North Sea and Baltic Sea, and part of the current offshore network The year 2017 marks a system change in the development plan (O-NDP) confirmed by offshore wind energy sector. Based upon the BNetzA, are contained in the Site Development Act concerning the development and promotion Plan. The requirement for offshore connecting of offshore wind energy (Offshore Wind Energy 1 cables is determined based upon rules of the Act - WindSeeG ), the Federal Maritime and Site Development Plan in the onshore network Hydrographic Agency (BSH) shall in future development plan. undertake the task of central development, and on behalf of the Federal Network Agency 1.2 Statutory basis of the Site (BNetzA), the investigation of sites for the Development Plan installation and operation of offshore wind turbines. According to sections 4ff. WindSeeG, the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency The central model describes a staged planning shall establish a Site Development Plan (FEP) and tendering process. In the first stage, spatial in conjunction with the Federal Network Agency and chronological prerequisites are specified for (BNetzA) and in consultation with the Federal sites for offshore wind energy in the Site Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN), Development Plan. The next step covers the the Directorate General for Navigation and site investigation of the sites that were Waterways (GDWS) and the coastal states. determined in the Site Development Plan. After completing the site investigation, the sites will The regulations of the Act for the expansion of be allocated in a competitive tender process, renewable energy (Renewable Energy Act – 2 wherein the tenderers are provided with the EEG 2017 ) and the Act concerning the 3 information gained by the site investigation. environmental impact assessment (UVPG ) are also applicable. The tenderer who is awarded a contract may, after completion of the authorisation procedure, install wind turbines on the site, is entitled to the market premium and is permitted to use the connecting capacity. The central model applies for the commissioning of offshore wind turbines from 2026 onwards. The Site Development Plan in the central model 2 Act dated 21 July 2014, Federal Law Gazette I p. 1066, is therefore the governing planning instrument last amended by article 1 of the Act concerning the for the synchronous expansion of wind energy subsidy of sub-metered electricity and the amendment of further regulations of the renewable energy act dated and its connection to the offshore network. 17 July 2017, Federal Law Gazette I p. 2532.
3 Act in the officially published version dated 24 February 1 Act dated 13 October 2016, Federal Law Gazette I 2010, Federal Law Gazette I p. 94, last amended by article p. 2258, 2310, last amended by article 2 paragraph 19 of 2 of the Act for implementing regulation (EU) the Act to modernise the law concerning environmental No. 1143/2014 concerning invasive, non-indigenous impact assessment dated 20 July 2017, Federal Law species dated 8 September 2017, Federal Law Gazette I Gazette I p. 2808. p. 3370. 2 Introduction
development of technologies for generating 1.3 Purpose and goals of the Site power from renewable energy. Development Plan Section 1 subsection 2 of the Renewable According to section 4 subsection 1 WindSeeG, Energy Act stipulates an increase in the it is the purpose of the Site Development Plan proportion of gross electricity consumption (FEP) to draw up planning rules for the generated from renewable energy to exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Federal Republic of Germany. According to an • 40 to 45% by 2025, administrative arrangement between the • 55 to 60% by 2035, and Federal Government, represented by the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency, • at least 80% by 2050. and the relevant state, planning rules can also The aim is to provide a steady, cost-efficient be drawn up for coastal waters. and grid-compatible expansion. According to Section 4 subsection 2 WindSeeG stipulates section 1 subsection 3 of the Renewable that, for the expansion of offshore wind turbines Energy Act, this objective also has the purpose and the offshore connecting cables required for of increasing the proportion of renewable this, the Site Development Plan draws up rules energy in the entire gross final consumption of with the aim of energy by 2020 to at least 18%. • achieving the expansion target in section 4 No. 2b of the Renewable Energy Act, • expanding the power generation from offshore wind turbines in a spatially ordered and compact fashion, and • ensuring an ordered and efficient utilisation and loading of the offshore connecting cables, and planning, installation, commissioning and use of offshore connecting cables in parallel with the expansion of power generation from offshore wind turbines. The primary purpose of the Site Development Plan is the implementation of the objective and goals of the Renewable Energy Act. According to section 1 of the Renewable Energy Act, it is the objective of the act, in particular in the interest of climate and environment protection, to ensure a sustainable development of energy supply, to reduce the economic costs of energy supply through the inclusion of long-term external effects, to limit the use of fossil fuel sources and to promote the further Introduction 3
according to the following regulations for 1.4 Subject of the Site Development coastal waters, concerning: Plan
According to the statutory order of section 5 subsection 1 WindSeeG, the Site Development Plan contains rules, for the period from 2026 to at least 2030 for the German EEZ and 1. Areas; areas can only be specified in coastal waters if the country concerned has concluded an administrative arrangement according to section 4 subsection 1 sentence 3 WindSeeG with the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency and has indicated the areas as a possible subject for the Site Development Plan, 2. sites in areas specified according to point 1, 3. the chronological order in which the specified sites are put out to tender according to part 3 section 2 of WindSeeG, including the specification of respective calendar years, 4. the calendar years in which the allocated offshore wind turbines and the corresponding offshore connecting cables are to be commissioned in each of the specified sites, 5. the expected generation capacity of the offshore wind turbines to be installed in each of the specified areas and sites, 6. locations of converter platforms, collector platforms and, as far as possible, transformer platforms, 7. routes or route corridors for offshore connecting cables, 8. places at which the offshore connecting cables cross the border between the EEZ and coastal waters, 9. routes or route corridors for border-crossing power cables, 10. routes or route corridors for possible interconnections of the plants, routes or route corridors listed in points 1, 2, 6, 7 and 9, and 11. standardised technical and planning principles.
In the period starting from 2021, the Site and designate the technical conditions of the Development Plan can identify available grid offshore connecting cable and the resulting connection capacities in existing, or in the technical prerequisites for the grid connection of following years yet to be completed, offshore pilot offshore wind turbines. connecting cables in areas inside the German EEZ and in coastal waters, which may be assigned to offshore pilot wind power plants in accordance with section 70 subsection 2 WindSeeG. The Site Development Plan may provide spatial specifications for the installation of pilot offshore wind turbines in certain areas, 4 Process for the expansion of offshore wind energy
2 Process for the expansion The BNetzA will then invite tenders for the sites to competitively determine the market premium, of offshore wind energy and publish the investigation results and A new process for the expansion of offshore information obtained in the site investigation wind energy is being introduced with the (cf. sections 14 ff. WindSeeG). Only the WindSeeG for offshore wind turbines that will successful tenderer may later apply for planning be commissioned from 2026 onwards. There approval for the installation and operation of are a number of steps to be completed between offshore wind turbines on the respective site. the general site development and the The awarded tender includes an entitlement to authorisation procedure for the wind turbines connect the wind turbines to the offshore and connecting cables. connecting cable specified in the Site Development Plan and to use the allotted grid According to section 4 ff. WindSeeG, the Site connection capacity in the connection cable. Development Plan will initially provide planning rules for the expansion of offshore wind After the tender has been awarded, the turbines and offshore connecting cables in successful bidder may apply for planning the EEZ. approval under sections 44 ff. WindSeeG. At this level of the planning stage, the Federal The aim of specifying the chronological Maritime and Hydrographic Agency will completion sequence of the sites is that, from investigate whether a certain project is 2026 onwards, offshore wind turbines will be permissible. If all prerequisites are met and the brought into operation in these sites and at the investigation result is positive, the process is same time the required installation of offshore completed with the award of the planning connecting cables will be completed, so that the approval notice. existing offshore connecting cables are used efficiently and their capacity is utilised. The next step involves the site investigation of the sites according to sections 9 ff. WindSeeG. This concerns the investigation of the marine environment, the preliminary survey of the construction site, as well as the wind and oceanographic conditions for the site under
preliminary investigation. Figure 1: The Site Development Plan in the overall system of the This will accelerate the subsequent planning central model for the sector of the German EEZ of the North Sea approval process for offshore wind turbines in and Baltic Sea these sites. Please see chapter 5.4 concerning coastal Building upon the results of the site waters. investigation, the suitability of the sites for the tender process will then be investigated. If suitability is confirmed, the information including the investigation results and the rule of the power output to be installed shall be established by ordinance and passed on to BNetzA. Process for the expansion of offshore wind energy 5
2.1 Site Development Plan • Publication of the Site Development Plan and the environmental report section 6 WindSeeG regulates the process of establishing the Site Development Plan, starting • Submission of a summarised declaration from publishing the introduction of the process to the participating North Sea and Baltic Sea states to publishing the completed plan.
2.1.1 Responsibility According to section 6 WindSeeG, the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency is responsible for preparing the Site Development Plan.
2.1.2 Initial schedule The following summary depicts the individual process stages.
Summary of the process stages
• Publication of the introduction and estimated conclusion of the process Figure 2: Planning process of the Site Development Plan and • Preparation of a preliminary draft and a strategic environmental assessment draft of the scope 2.1.3 Update • Official and public participation The Federal Maritime and Hydrographic • Issue of a common statement of the Agency initially prepares the Site Development TSOs (Transmission System Operators) Plan by 30 June 2019. • Assessment of the statement of the TSOs According to section 8 subsection 1 of • Date of hearing WindSeeG, the Site Development Plan may be amended or updated by proposal from the • Determination of the scope Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency, • Preparation of the Site Development Plan wherein the decision concerning timing and draft and the environmental report scope of a process for amendment or update is • Official and public participation made by mutual agreement between the • Public hearing Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency and BNetzA. • Assessment of the environmental report under consideration of the statements According to section 5 WindSeeG, the Site Development Plan is amended or updated if, to • Consideration of the assessment in the Site Development Plan draft achieve the goals according to section 4 WindSeeG, it is necessary to establish other or • Consultation with the Federal Agency for further areas and sites, or a change in Nature Conservation, the Directorate- General for Waterways and Shipping and chronological order of the preliminary the coastal states assessment of the sites because, for example, investigated sites were deemed to be • Establish agreement with BNetzA unsuitable. 6 Process for the expansion of offshore wind energy
Nevertheless, it shall be updated at least every a planning approval process for the installation four years (cf. section 8 subsection 2 and operation of offshore wind turbines at the sentence 1 WindSeeG). Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency according to sections 44 ff. WindSeeG. 2.1.4 Coordination requirements According to section 9 subsection 1 WindSeeG, According to section 6 subsection 7 WindSeeG, the site investigation has the aim of providing the preparation of the Site Development Plan the tenderers for the available sites takes place in coordination with the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation, the • with sufficient information to enable Directorate-General for Waterways and them to ascertain a competitive market Shipping and the coastal states. premium according to section 22d of the Renewable Energy Act and 2.1.5 Consensus requirement • to determine the suitability of the sites According to section 6 subsection 7 WindSeeG, and the preparation of the Site Development Plan takes place in agreement with BNetzA. • to assess individual investigation objects in advance so as to accelerate the 2.2 Investigation of sites subsequent planning approval process According to section 11 subsection 1 for these sites. sentence 1 of WindSeeG, the BNetzA is The process for the implementation of responsible for the investigation of sites. the site investigation, including the BNetzA assigns responsibility for the site suitability examination of the sites investigations in the EEZ to the Federal nominated in the Site Development Plan Maritime and Hydrographic Agency in is guided by section 12 WindSeeG. accordance with the administrative A strategic environmental assessment must arrangement dated March 2017 in accordance also be carried out. with section 11 subsection 1 sentence 2 No. 1 WindSeeG. Thus, according to section 11 According to section 9 subsection 3 WindSeeG, subsection 2 sentence 1 WindSeeG, the the investigation of sites must be carried out so Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency that, prior to the publication of the tender, the carries out the tasks of the authority responsible site investigation is completed for at least those for the site investigation according to the law for sites for which, according to the Site the sites in the German EEZ. Development Plan, tenders will be invited in the current and the following calendar year. Where sites in coastal waters are concerned, the BNetzA according to section 11 The following stages are legally provided in subsection 1 sentence 2 No. 2 WindSeeG particular: assigns responsibility for the site investigation to the authority responsible according to national law in accordance with an administrative arrangement. The investigation of sites takes place with the aim of BNetzA inviting tenders for the sites suitable according to sections 16 ff. WindSeeG. The successful bidder must then carry out Process for the expansion of offshore wind energy 7
Figure 3: Stages for the investigation of sites tender volume. The share of a site in the total tender volume is determined by the Site Summary of the process stages Development Plan and the power to be installed • Publication of the introduction of the on the sites as determined by the site process investigation. • Date of hearing Six months prior to the tender deadline, BNetzA • Determination of the scope shall publish the tender on its internet web site according to section 19 WindSeeG, including • Provision of information concerning the maritime environment, the preliminary any information to be provided by the Federal investigation of the installation site and Maritime and Hydrographic Agency, and wind and oceanographic conditions documentation according to section 10 subsection 1 WindSeeG containing any further • Suitability examination and determination of the power output to be installed information as required by statutory ordinance. • Determination of suitability through a The Federal Network Agency (BNetzA) awards statutory ordinance the tender for each tendered site to the bid with the lowest bid value under the caveat of • Interpretation of the documents revocation as well as the caveat of a transition • Submission of the information to BNetzA in the event of an effective exercise of subrogation. The value to be applied is the tender value of the successful tender. With the award of the tender according to 2.3 Call for tenders section 23 WindSeeG, the successful bidder For sites that were deemed suitable, BNetzA has the exclusive right to carry out a planning shall determine by way of a tender process the approval process on the respective site, value of the market premium and the respective wherein the successful bidder benefits from the entitled beneficiary. BNetzA is responsible for information and suitability determination of the this according to sections 16 ff. WindSeeG. site investigation. According to section 17 sentence 1 WindSeeG, Furthermore, the successful bidder is entitled to BNetzA shall issue annual tenders from 2021 the market premium according to section 19 of onwards by the tender deadline of the Renewable Energy Act to the extent of the 1 September, covering a volume between applied bid size on the respective site, as long 700 and 900 MW. The tendered quantities must and insofar as the further prerequisites for the not exceed those that were determined in the entitlement according to section 19 of the Site Development Plan, which according to Renewable Energy Act are met. Moreover, to section 5 subsection 5 sentence 1 WindSeeG is the extent of the applied bid size, the successful an average of 840 MW. The tendered volume is bidder is entitled to be connected to the wind distributed over the preliminary investigated turbines on the respective site by the offshore sites which, according to the Site Development connecting cable specified in the Site Plan, are to come up for tender in the current Development Plan from the binding completion calendar year, provided that the Site date, and receives the allotted grid connection Development Plan allows for tenders in multiple capacity of the offshore connecting cable sites in one year, and that the expected specified in the Site Development Plan from the generation capacity in total makes up the entire binding completion date according to section 8 Process for the expansion of offshore wind energy
17d subsection 2 sentence 9 of the Energy platforms or transformer platforms, that the Industry Act (EnWG).4 obligation according to section 66 subsection 2 WindSeeG has been declared effective, and 2.4 Planning approval that other regulations according to WindSeeG After the tender has been awarded by BNetzA, and other public law regulations have been met. applications for a planning approval may be A planning approval notice or planning submitted for the site covered by the plan permission for an offshore wind turbine is according to section 46 subsection 1 granted with a limit of 25 years. A single WindSeeG. According to section 45 retrospective extension of the time limit by a subsection 2 WindSeeG, the Federal Maritime maximum of five years is possible, provided and Hydrographic Agency is the authority that the Site Development Plan provides for an responsible for the hearing process, planning immediate subsequent use according to section approval process and planning permission 8 subsection 3 WindSeeG (cf. section 48 process. subsection 7 WindSeeG). In addition to the statutory specifications of The planning approval or planning permission section 73 subsection 1 sentence 2 of the requires the consent of the Directorate-General Administrative Procedure Act, the plan must for Waterways and Shipping. contain the information contained in section 47 As soon as the planning approval notice or subsection 1 WindSeeG. planning permission is no longer in force, the In the planning approval notice, according to facilities must be removed according to section section 48 subsection 3 WindSeeG, the Federal 58 subsection 1 WindSeeG as required therein. Maritime and Hydrographic Agency has the According to WindSeeG, the successful bidders power, in the interest of a rapid installation and must commissioning of the project and under consideration of the time and action plan • within twelve months of being awarded the provided by the contractor, to specify measures tender, submit the documentation required and to set deadlines by which said measures for the implementation of the hearing must be fulfilled. process concerning the plan to the Federal The plan may only be realised under certain Maritime and Hydrographic Agency, conditions that are listed in section 48 • at the latest 24 months prior to the binding subsection 4 WindSeeG. This includes that the completion date, supply proof to BNetzA marine environment is not endangered, that the concerning an existing financing safety and ease of traffic is not compromised, arrangement for the installation of wind that the safety of the national and Alliance turbines to the extent of the applied bid defence is not compromised, that the plan is size, reconcilable with overriding mining activities, • at the latest three months prior to the that it is compatible with existing and planned binding completion date, supply proof to routes of cables, offshore connection cables, BNetzA that the installation of the wind pipelines and other lines, that it is compatible turbines has commenced, with existing and planned locations of converter • within six months after the binding
4 completion date, supply proof to BNetzA Act dated 7 July 2005, Federal Law Gazette. I p. 1970, 3621, last amended by article 2 subsection 6 of the act that at least one wind turbine is technically dated 20 July 2017, Federal Law Gazette I p. 2808. operational, Process for the expansion of offshore wind energy 9
• and within 18 months after the binding Act for determining the expansion requirement completion date, supply proof to BNetzA of the transmission network, and is approved by that all of the wind turbines are technically BNetzA after consultation and examination operational (cf. section 59 subsection 2 according to section 12a subsection 3 of the WindSeeG). Energy Industry Act. In the instance of non-compliance with 2.5.2 Network development plan deadlines, a financial penalty shall be Based upon the scenario framework, the automatically applied. transmission system operators shall submit to 2.5 Interfaces with other the regulatory authority every even calendar year a common national network development instruments of network planning plan according to section 12b Energy Industry As a result of the changeover to renewable Act for confirmation; this plan must contain, energy and hence the expansion of offshore amongst others, all effective measures for wind energy, a nationwide network expansion is a needs-based optimisation, improvement and required. To determine the extent of the expansion of the network which are necessary network expansion required, a statutory for a secure and reliable network operation at process consisting of multiple instruments and the latest by the end of the review period in the the participation of the public will assess and sense of the scenario framework according to specify the nationwide requirement for section 12a subsection 1 sentence 2 Energy expansion. Industry Act. The following describes the interfaces with the The network development plan takes into other instruments involved in the network consideration the community-wide network planning process in relation to the Site development plan (Ten-Year Network Development Plan. Development Plan, TYNDP for short, see chapter 2.5.4). 2.5.1 Scenario framework Starting with the submission of the first draft of According to section 12a Energy Industry Act, the NDP in 2018, it contains all effective the transmission system operators shall every measures for a needs-based optimisation and 2 years (in every even calendar year) prepare a improvement for the expansion of the offshore common scenario framework that describes the connecting cables in the exclusive economic most likely development of the German zone (EEZ) and in coastal waters, including the electricity distribution system. The scenario grid connection points on land, which are framework comprises at least three required by the end of the review period development paths (so-called scenarios), which according to section 12a subsection 1 sentence cover the extent of the most likely 2 Energy Industry Act, for a staged, needs- developments for at least the next 10 years and based and economic expansion as well as a at most 15 years of the energy-political aims of safe and reliable operation of the offshore the Federal Government in the medium to long connecting cables and the further transmission term. One of the scenarios must show the most of power generated offshore. Based upon the likely development over the at least next findings of the latest published Site 15 years and at most 20 years. The scenario Development Plan, details concerning the framework forms the basis for the planned completion date of these measures establishment of the network development plan shall be provided in the NDP. (NDP) according to section 12b Energy Industry 10 Process for the expansion of offshore wind energy
According to section 12c subsection 4 Energy one existing wind farm project according to Industry Act, BNetzA shall confirm the NDP by section 37 subsection 1 No. 2 WindSeeG has 31 December of each odd calendar year at the received capacity by way of tender award within latest under consideration of the results of the the scope of the second tender deadline official and public participation. according to section 26 subsection 1 WindSeeG. Secondly, reference is made to the From 1 January 2019 onwards, the TSO fact that the criteria of the O-NDP for the (Transmission System Operators) must, chronological sequence of the implementation according to section 17d subsection 1 Energy of the offshore connecting cables according to Industry Act, install and operate the offshore section 17b subsection 2 sentence 3 Energy connecting cables according to the Industry Act differs from the criteria of the Site specifications of the NDP and the Site Development Plan for the rule of the sites and Development Plan. The TSOs are required to the chronological order of their call for tender commence the grid connection of offshore wind according to section 5 subsection 4 sentence 2 turbines according to the specifications of the WindSeeG, and also refer to different rules, so NDP and the Site Development Plan and to that it is possible in principle that the completion proceed rapidly with the installation of the grid dates of offshore connecting cables may differ. connections of offshore wind turbines. Thus the confirmation of the offshore network A number of statements on the preliminary draft development plan 2017-2030 in the Site of the Site Development Plan are required to Development Plan cannot be taken into take into account the offshore network consideration for offshore connecting cables development plan that was approved by after 2025. BNetzA on 22 December 2017. Firstly, reference is made to section 17c subsection 1 2.5.3 Federal requirement plan sentence 2 Energy Industry Act, according to which the O-NDP (Offshore Network 2.5.4 Ten-Year Network Development Plan Development Plan) for offshore connecting According to article 8 subsection 3 b) of the cables, the planned completion date of which is Directive EC 714/2009 of the European after 2025, is confirmed with the proviso of the Parliament and the council dated 13 July 2009 corresponding rule of the respective offshore concerning network access conditions for connecting cable in the Site Development Plan. cross-border power trading and the revocation Correspondingly, the confirmation of the of the Directive (EC) No. 1228/20035, the offshore development plan 2017-2030 and the European transmission system operators for assignment of the confirmed connection electricity (ENTSO-E) every two years adopt a systems are subject to proviso of the non-binding, community-wide, ten-year network corresponding confirmation in the network development plan ("community-wide network development plan 2019-2030 on the basis of development plan") including a European the Site Development Plan rule according to forecast for the adequacy of electric power section 12c subsection 4 sentence 1 Energy generation. Industry Act in conjunction with section 12b In this context, the European transmission subsection 1 sentence 4 No. 7 Energy Industry system operators published on 20 December Act. This proviso is no longer in effect for the 2016 a so-called Ten-Year Network confirmation and assignment of the connecting systems OST-2-1, OST-2-2 and OST-2-3, since in each respective connecting system at least 5 OJ 211/15, 14 August 2009. Process for the expansion of offshore wind energy 11
Development Plan (TYNDP 2016) in the consulted and final version. 2.6 Existing spatial planning and planning It contains national and international expansion measures that are significant for cross-border, For the coordination of all space demands and European electrical power transmission. concerns that occur in a certain space, The draft of the TYNDP 2018 is currently Germany has a tiered planning system for in the consultation phase and will most likely be spatial planning through federal spatial planning published at the end of 2018. The results as well as state and regional planning; with this obtained from the NDP at a national level are system, according to section 1 subsection 1 included in the relevant TYNDP. sentence 2 of the Federal Spatial Planning Act, different demands on a space are coordinated 2.5.5 Federal network plan so as to settle conflicts that may occur at a respective planning level and to plan for individual uses and functions of the space. The planning of the subsequent planning levels are further substantiated through the tiered system. According to section 1 subsection 3 of the Federal Spatial Planning Act, the development, order and security of the partial spaces is to be integrated into the circumstances and requirements of the entire space, and the development, order and security of the entire space must consider the circumstances and requirements of its partial spaces. The Federal Ministry of the Interior, for Construction and Homeland is responsible for spatial planning at the federal level in the EEZ. In contrast, for state-level planning, the respective federal state is responsible for the entire space of the federal state including the respective coastal waters. State-specific responsibilities exist for regional planning. Besides the spatial planning for the respective responsibility sectors, there is sectoral planning based upon sectoral laws for certain specific planning sectors. Sectoral plans serve the purpose of determining details for the respective sector taking into account the requirements of spatial planning. 12 Process for the expansion of offshore wind energy
Law Gazette I p. 3107) came into force on 2.6.1 Exclusive Economic Zone 26 September 2009. On the 19 December Since 2004, the EEZ has provided the statutory 2009, the ordinance of the BMVBS concerning basis for the establishment of maritime Spatial the spatial planning in the German EEZ in the Plans (see chapter 2.6.1.2). Baltic Sea dated 10 December 2009 (Federal As part of the resolutions concerning the energy Law Gazette I p. 3861) came into force. transition in June 2011 and the corresponding With regard to maritime spatial planning, the statutory changes, the Federal Maritime and international specifications of the United Hydrographic Agency was tasked with Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea must preparing a plan for offshore power networks in be observed. Besides the scientific and the German EEZ, the Spatial Offshore Grid economic utilisation of the sea, mainly the Plan, and to update it regularly (see interests of shipping and nature conservation chapter 2.6.1.1). are relevant. In relation to offshore wind energy, both Spatial Plans contain amongst others aims 2.6.1.1 Spatial Offshore Grid Plans and principles of spatial planning for offshore The task of federal planning is now wind energy (3.5) and subsea cables (3.3). implemented in the Site Development Plan with additional tasks, mainly with regard to In the process of preparing the Spatial Plans, a specifying the chronological implementation strategic environmental assessment was also sequence of the sites for offshore wind turbines carried out to determine, describe and evaluate and offshore connecting cables. Please see the probable significant environmental impacts chapters 2.1 and 2.5. on factors. The first Spatial Offshore Grid Plan for the EEZ The update of the existing Spatial Plans will of the North Sea 2012 was published on most likely commence in 2018/2019. 22 February 2013. The first Spatial Offshore 2.6.2 Lower Saxony Grid Plan for the EEZ of the Baltic Sea 2013 followed on 7 March 2014. Both plans were 2.6.3 Schleswig-Holstein updated for 2016/2017. 2.6.4 Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania 2.6.1.2 Spatial Plans To achieve a sustainable spatial planning in the EEZ, the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency, by order of the Federal Ministry of the Interior, prepares Spatial Plans that come into force in form of ordinances of the Federal Ministry of the Interior. The Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency, by order of the then Ministry for Transport, Building and Urban Development (BMVBS), had already in 2009 prepared the Spatial Plans for the German EEZ of the North Sea and the Baltic Sea. The ordinance of the BMVBS concerning the spatial planning in the German EEZ in the North Sea dated 21 September 2009 (Federal Starting Position 13
3 Starting Position Industry Act a.F.), capacity allocations (according to section 17d subsection 3 or 3.1 Current state of the expansion section 118 subsection 19 Energy Industry Act) or tenders awarded (according to section 34 Offshore wind farms with their associated WindSeeG) through the Federal Network connecting cables have been installed and Agency. operated since 2009 in German coastal waters as well as in the German EEZ of the North Sea By the end of 2017, connecting cables for and the Baltic Sea. offshore wind farm projects with a transmission capacity of approximately 5.7 GW had been By the end of 2017, offshore wind turbines installed and taken into operation. Ten of the with an output capacity of approximately connecting cables are located in the North Sea 5.4 GW had been installed and commissioned. and two in the Baltic Sea. The expansion of offshore wind energy was and The state of expansion of offshore connecting remains dependent on the underlying cables depicted in Tabelle 1 includes all grid conditions. According to current planning, there connection systems for offshore wind farm will be a capacity of approximately 7.7 GW in projects that were ordered for the fulfilment of offshore wind farm projects connected to the an individual claim to grid connection of a wind network by the end of 2020, and 10.8 GW by farm operator. the end of 2025. These projects are either provided with unconditional grid connection Thus, by the end of 2025 there will be permits according to previous legislation 15 connecting cables in the North Sea and (according to section 118 subsection 12 Energy 8 connecting cables in the Baltic Sea.
14 Starting Position
Table 1: Overview of offshore connecting cables by the end of 2025 and connected offshore wind farm projects Connecting cables Transmission Offshore wind farm projects connected by the end of 2025 capacity by the end of 2025 North Sea NOR-0-1 (Riffgat) 113 MW Riffgat NOR-0-2 (Nordergründe) 111 MW Nordergründe NOR-1-1 (DolWin5/epsilon) 900 MW Borkum Riffgrund West II, OWP West, Borkum Riffgrund West I NOR-2-1 (alpha ventus) 62 MW alpha ventus NOR-2-2 (DolWin1/alpha) 800 MW Borkum Riffgrund 1, Trianel Wind Farm Borkum NOR-2-3 (DolWin3/gamma) 900 MW Borkum Riffgrund 2, Merkur Offshore NOR-3-1 (DolWin2/beta) 916 MW Gode Wind 01, Gode Wind 02, North Sea One NOR-3-3 (DolWin6/kappa) 900 MW Gode Wind III, Gode Wind 04 NOR-4-1 (HelWin1/alpha) 576 MW Meerwind South/East, North Sea East NOR-4-2 (HelWin2/beta) 690 MW Amrum Bank West, KASKASI II NOR-5-1 (SylWin1/alpha) 864 MW Butendiek, Dan Tysk, Sandbank NOR-6-1 (BorWin1/alpha) 400 MW BARD Offshore 1 NOR-6-2 (BorWin2/beta) 800 MW Albatros, German Bight, Veja Mate NOR-7-1 (BorWin5/epsilon) 900 MW EnBW He Dreiht NOR-8-1 (BorWin3/gamma) 900 MW EnBW High Seas, Global Tech I Baltic Sea OST-3-1 (Baltic1) 51 MW EnBW Baltic1, EnBW Baltic 2, GICON-SOF OST-3-2 (Baltic2) 339 MW OST-1-1 250 MW Arkona Basin South East, Wikinger, Wikinger South OST-1-2 250 MW OST-1-3 250 MW OST-2-1 250 MW ARCADIS East I OST-2-2 250 MW Baltic Eagle OST-2-3 250 MW
Starting Position 15
Figure 4: Offshore wind farms in the German EEZ of the North Sea which will most likely be in operation by the end of 2025
Figure 5: Offshore wind farms in the German EEZ of the Baltic Sea which will most likely be in operation by the end of 2025 16 Starting Position
energy is regulated in that the increase in 3.2 Legislative trajectory of offshore installed offshore wind turbine capacity is to be wind energy 6,500 MW by 2020 and 15,000 MW by 2030. According to the climate protection strategy of To what degree the implementation of the Paris the Federal Government for the expansion of climate protection agreement, the adoption of offshore wind energy utilisation prepared in the national climate action plan 2050 by the 2002, offshore wind energy had already special Federal Cabinet on 14 November 2016, and the significance then. The proportion of wind implementation of the coalition agreement energy provided in total power consumption is dated 14 March 2018 of the governing parties set to grow to at least 25% within the next three are reflected in specific statutory measures, and decades. The aim was then to install a capacity what effect they have on the legislative of a total of 25 GW in the North Sea and the expansion trajectory, remains to be seen. Baltic Sea by 2030. According to the energy concept of the Federal 3.3 Increased expansion trajectory Government dated 28 September 2010, the of the scenario framework proportion of renewable energy of the total 2019-2030 power consumption is to increase to 35% by 2020 and to 80% by 2050. As part of the energy transition agreed in 2011, renewable energy increased in significance. The Federal Government decided on 6 June 2011 on an energy package that supplemented the measures of the energy concept and had the aim of accelerating its implementation. As part of the latest reform of the Renewable Energy Act in 2016, according to section 1 subsection 2 of the Renewable Energy Act 2017, the aim is to increase the proportion of power generated through renewable energy of the gross electricity consumption to • 40 to 45% by 2025, • 55 to 60% by 2035, and • at least 80% by 2050. This objective also has the purpose of increasing the proportion of renewable energy of the entire gross final consumption of energy by 2020 to at least 18%. The aim is to provide a steady, cost-efficient and grid-compatible expansion. In section 4 No. 2 Renewable Energy Act, the expansion trajectory for offshore wind Guidelines and Basic Principles 17
4 Guidelines and Basic connection concept, details of which are described in Chapter 4.2. Principles The planning principles build upon the aims and principles of the Spatial Plan. As part of the 4.1 Introduction preparation of the Spatial Plan, an overall The strategic planning of the expansion of balancing of utilisations has already taken offshore wind energy as well as the associated place. The relevant aims and principles are network topology for the transmission of largely included in the Site Development Plan electricity is of utmost significance for the as planning principles and, with respect to supply with renewable energy. With the applicability concerning objects of regulation increase in different utilisations in the German touched on in the Site Development Plan, are EEZ, the available space for future utilisation checked, substantiated and assessed amongst and infrastructure becomes less and less. each other concerning their significance based For the purpose of systematic and efficient upon the interests and rights presented. planning, the Federal Maritime and The determination of standardised engineering Hydrographic Agency received a statutory principles and planning principles is already request to allocate areas and sites for offshore based upon a consideration of possibly affected wind energy as well as corresponding routes public interests and legal positions and locations for the required network topology. (cf. justification of individual provisions and The result of these coordinated processes will principles), so that the determination of be that the actions in the German EEZ will be standardised engineering principles and stipulated bindingly in terms of space and time. planning principles already contains a "pre- The determination of planning principles and assessment" of possible alternatives. standardised engineering principles for the EEZ of the North Sea and the Baltic Sea is a 4.2 Connection concepts mandatory prerequisite for the definite determination of the space requirement of the 4.2.1 Standard concept North Sea: DC entire network topology within the scope of the system Site Development Plan. The aim of specifying 4.2.1.1 Connection between converter standardised engineering principles and platform and offshore wind farms: planning principles is to provide a basis for a standard concept 66 kV systematic and coordinated overall planning process. Otherwise it would not be possible to determine the required space with the Summary necessary accuracy in the planning process. Apart from determining the space requirement • Determination of the 66 kV connection as precisely as possible, the standardised concept as standard for the EEZ of technical principles also help with cost the North Sea efficiency and the needs-based expansion of • The cable end plug of the 66 kV subsea connecting cables, which is in the economic cable systems serves as the interface interest of the country. between transmission network operator and the project developer of the offshore The starting point for determining standardised wind farm engineering principles (4.3) is the technical grid • Deviation from the standard concept is 18 Guidelines and Basic Principles
possible in case of spatial requirements in Summary an area • Implementation of the HVDC transmission • If a deviation is required, determination of systems in voltage sourced (VSC) the connection concept of the BFO-N technology 16/17 with an operating voltage of 155 kV • Standard transmission voltage +/- 320 kV 4.2.2 Standard concept Baltic Sea: Three- • Standard transmission power 1000 MW phase system • Deviation from the standard transmission power is possible in case of spatial requirements in an area Summary • Connection of offshore wind turbines to • Determination of the three-phase the converter platform in 66 kV three- connection concept as standard for the phase technology EEZ of the Baltic Sea
4.3.2 Three-phase system Baltic Sea 4.3 Standardised technical principles 4.3.2.1 Three-phase system: Transmission voltage 220 kV 4.3.1 DC system North Sea 4.3.2.2 Three-phase system: Utilisation of . transformer platform by the TSO 4.3.1.1 DC system: Voltage sourced technology Summary
• Standard transmission voltage 220 kV 4.3.1.2 DC system: Transmission voltage • Planning and installation of the +/- 320 kV transformer platform by the project developer; utilisation by the TSO must be 4.3.1.3 DC system: Standard power made possible. 1000 MW
4.3.1.4 Requirement for type and number of control panels to be provided 4.3.3 Cross-connections between converter/transformer platforms 4.3.1.5 Create conditions for cross- connections between converter/transformer platforms 4.3.4 Cross-border cables 4.3.1.6 66 kV connection concept 4.3.4.1 Bundled DC cable
4.3.4.2 Consideration overall system Guidelines and Basic Principles 19
4.4.1.1 Chronological overall coordination 4.4 Planning principles of installation works According to section 5 subsection 1 No. 11 In order to prevent or mitigate cumulative WindSeeG, the Site Development Plan contains effects, overall coordination concerning determinations concerning planning principles. timing of the installation works shall be The planning principles apply for the sector of carried out under consideration of the the German EEZ and build upon the aims and underlying project-specific conditions. principles of the Spatial Plan. F.1 No negative impact on safety or ease of General planning principles will now be shipping traffic specified. The safety and efficiency of shipping must not be compromised as a result of the 4.4.1 General principles operation of offshore wind turbines, Planning principles for offshore wind turbines, platforms and subsea cables. platforms and offshore connecting cables are 4.4.1.2 No negative impact on safety or listed below. ease of air traffic Summary The safety and ease of air traffic must not be compromised as a result of the operation of • Chronological overall coordination of offshore wind turbines, platforms and installation works subsea cables. • Safety and ease of shipping traffic must not be diminished 4.4.1.3 Obligation to dismantle and security deposit • Safety and ease of air traffic must not be After ceasing utilisation, the offshore wind diminished turbines, platforms and subsea cables • Obligation to dismantle and security should be dismantled. Should the deposit dismantling pose greater environmental • Consideration of all existing and approved consequences than leaving the equipment, usages dismantling should not take place, or not to the full extent, unless it is required due to • Consideration of cultural assets reasons of safety and ease of traffic. Should • Noise mitigation the equipment remain, suitable monitoring measures are to be taken concerning • Minimisation of scour protection possible future hazards. If dismantling takes • Consideration of regulatory standards, place, reuse of the components should be specifications and concepts the aim before recycling, and recycling before thermal recycling or any other - • Emission mitigation proven - appropriate waste management on • Consideration of ordnance locations land. A security deposit must be paid for meeting the dismantling obligation. • Installation of sonar transponders 4.4.1.4 Consideration of all existing and
approved usages A distance of 500 m shall be maintained from existing and approved pipelines as 20 Guidelines and Basic Principles
well as existing, approved and, within the and Nuclear Safety (BMU) must be observed scope of this plan, specified subsea cables, in this respect. offshore wind farms and other high structures, unless the construction site 4.4.2.1 Minimisation of scour protection conditions require greater distances. When Scour protection measures must be reduced selecting locations for offshore wind to a minimum. turbines and platforms, the routing of subsea cable systems, existing and 4.4.2.2 Consideration of regulatory approved usages and usage rights, and the standards, specifications and interests of maritime traffic, national and concepts Alliance defence and the fishing industry Statutory standards, specifications and must be taken into consideration. concepts must be taken into consideration The planning, installation and operation of for the planning, installation and operation offshore wind turbines, platforms and of wind turbines, platforms and subsea
subsea cable systems shall be carried out in cable systems. close coordination with the transmission 4.4.2.3 Emission mitigation network operator and the offshore wind farm project developers. Emissions must be minimised.
4.4.1.5 Consideration of cultural assets 4.4.2.4 Consideration of ordnance locations When selecting locations or routes, known sites of cultural assets must be taken into When selecting locations or routes, known consideration. If, during planning or ordnance locations must be taken into installation of the wind turbines, platforms consideration. If, during planning or or subsea cable systems, so far installation of the wind turbines, platforms undiscovered cultural assets are found on or subsea cable systems, so far the seabed, corresponding measures for the undiscovered ordnance is found on the preservation of the cultural asset must be seabed, corresponding protective measures taken. must be taken.
4.4.2 Noise mitigation 4.4.2.5 Installation of sonar transponders For the purpose of noise mitigation, the use Sonar transponders must be installed at of alternative, low-noise forms of suitable corner positions of wind farms and foundations are to be considered. If wind platforms. turbines or platforms are installed with pile foundations, effective technical noise mitigation measures are to be taken during the foundation ramming process. The noise mitigation concept is to be integrated into the design scope of the foundation construction at an early stage. The noise abatement concept of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation Guidelines and Basic Principles 21
4.4.3.2 Economic area use The individual wind turbines are to be 4.4.3 Offshore sites and offshore wind arranged in the most space-saving manner turbines possible. The following lists the planning principles for sites, primarily for the installation and operation 4.4.3.3 Distances between sites and from of offshore wind turbines. wind turbines Wind turbines must have a mutual distance Summary of at least five times their rotor diameter. • Consideration of nature conservation areas and legally protected biotopes 4.4.4 Platforms The following states the planning principles for • Economic area use platforms. Platforms include converter • Distances between sites and from wind platforms, collector platforms, transformer turbines platforms as well as accommodation platforms.
Summary 4.4.3.1 Consideration of nature • conservation areas and legally Consideration of nature conservation protected biotopes areas and regard to legally protected biotopes The installation of offshore wind turbines in nature conservation areas is prohibited. • Required area and additional When installing and operating offshore wind manoeuvring space turbines, adverse effects on the marine • The platform design should take into environment, in particular the natural consideration the requirement for functions and the marine ecosystem, must temporary living quarters; not to be be prevented. utilised for longer than three years Known sites of legally protected biotopes according to section 30 Federal Nature Conservation Act or corresponding structures must be prevented when 4.4.4.1 Consideration of nature installing wind turbines. conservation areas and regard to legally protected biotopes The provisions of section 45 a of the Federal The installation of platforms in nature Water Management Act (WHG)6 must be conservation areas is not permitted. When observed, the best environmental practice installing and operating platforms, adverse according to the Helsinki or OSPAR effects on the marine environment, convention and the respective state of the in particular the natural functions and the art are to be taken into consideration and marine ecosystem, must be prevented. substantiated in individual processes. Known sites of legally protected biotopes according to section 30 Federal Nature
Conservation Act or corresponding 6 The act of 31 July 2009, Federal Law Gazette l p. 2585, structures should be prevented where last amended by article 1 of the act dated 18 July 2017 (Federal Law Gazette l p. 2771). possible when installing platforms. 22 Guidelines and Basic Principles
The provisions of section 45 a of the Federal Summary Water Management Act (WHG)7 must be observed, the best environmental practice • Parallel bundling as far as possible according to the Helsinki or OSPAR • Spacing in case of parallel installation: convention and the respective state of the 100 m; 200 m after every second cable art are to be taken into consideration and system substantiated in individual processes. • Routing through gates 4.4.4.2 Required area • Perpendicular crossing of shipping priority A site of 100 m by 200 m must be provided and shipping reservation areas for a converter platform. A site of 100 m by • 100 m must be provided for a transformer Prevent crossings; if absolutely platform. Additional manoeuvring space necessary, then, as much as possible, at must be provided for platforms placed side right angles; distance between turning by side. points 250 m • Careful installation 4.4.4.3 Temporary living quarters • Covering The need for temporary living quarters (TLQ) must already be considered in the • Mitigation of sediment heating design phase of offshore construction sites; (compliance with 2 K criteria) this includes in particular structural safety, • Consideration of nature conservation supply and waste disposal, as well as waste areas and legally protected biotopes water treatment and matters of occupational safety including escape routes and means. Temporary living quarters should generally 4.4.5.1 Bundling exist no longer than to the end of the When installing subsea cable systems, the commissioning phase of the respective aim is to run cables as much as possible in building structure. They should not be used parallel bundles. Moreover, the routes any longer than three years. should be parallel to existing structures as far as possible. 4.4.5 Subsea cable systems The following states the planning principles for 4.4.5.2 Spacing in case of parallel subsea cable systems, which in the sense of installation this plan include electrical cable systems such When installing subsea cable systems in as offshore connecting cables, cross-border parallel, a distance between systems of cables and cross-connections between 100 m must be maintained. A distance of converter/transformer platforms. The following 200 m must be kept after every second cable planning principles 4.4.4.6 and 4.4.4.8 apply to system. In this respect the actual interconnecting subsea cables within the farm. construction site conditions are to be taken into consideration, particularly in the Baltic
Sea.
7 The act of 31 July 2009, Federal Law Gazette l p. 2585, 4.4.5.3 Routing through gates last amended by article 1 of the act dated 18 July 2017 Subsea cable systems that land in Germany (Federal Law Gazette l p. 2771). must generally be routed through the gates Guidelines and Basic Principles 23
N-I to N-IV or O-I and O-III determined at the 4.4.5.7 Covering border to the EEZ and the 12 n.m. zone. When determining the permanent covering Moreover, cross-border cables are to be of subsea cable systems, the interest of the routed through the gates N-V to N-XVII or O-I protection of the marine environment, and O-XIV determined at the border to the shipping traffic, defence, the fishing EEZ and the 12 n.m. zone. industry as well as system safety must be taken into consideration. Cross-border cables that do not land in Germany should not be routed through the 4.4.5.8 Sediment heating gates N-I to N-V due to the limited When installing subsea cable systems, availability of routes in coastal waters. potential adverse effects on the marine environment through cable-induced 4.4.5.4 Crossing of shipping priority and sediment heating is to be reduced as much shipping reservation areas as possible. The precautionary limit with Shipping priority and shipping reservation respect to nature conservation is the so- areas specified in the EEZ Spatial Plan called "2 K criteria", which specifies a should be crossed by subsea cable systems maximum tolerable temperature increase of by the shortest possible route insofar as the sediment by 2 degrees (Kelvin) at 20 cm parallel routing to existing structural sediment depth. installations is not possible. 4.4.5.9 Consideration of nature 4.4.5.5 Crossings conservation areas and legally Mutual crossings of subsea cable systems protected biotopes as well as crossings with existing pipelines When installing subsea cable systems, and existing subsea cables, or those possible adverse effects on the marine proposed in this plan, should be prevented environment are to be minimised. Thus, as far as possible. If crossings cannot be subsea cable systems should be installed prevented, they must be carried out outside nature conservation areas as far as according to the current state of the art and possible. at right angles as far as possible. Known sites of legally protected biotopes 4.4.5.6 Careful installation according to section 30 Federal Nature The installation method used for installing Conservation Act or corresponding subsea cable systems should be as gentle structures should be prevented where as possible to protect the marine possible when installing subsea cable environment. systems.
4.5 Possible deviations
4.5.1 Standardised technical principles 4.5.2 Planning principles 24 Guidelines and Basic Principles
expected generation capacity. To this end, the Any deviation from flexible planning principles sites under consideration are first categorised must be requested in the respective approval based upon the criteria described below. The process. Every deviation from any planning aim is to identify sites for which, due to the principle must be justified in a transparent criteria-based assessment, a relatively higher or and plausible manner in the specific approval lower power density may be applied. procedure. Compliance with the statutory requirements must be explained in the If a site meets one of the criteria stated below, it specific approval procedure. In particular the is allocated to one of the two categories for following must be stated and presented for determining the power density to be applied. To examination: determine the expected generation capacity, the respective site is multiplied by the • Justification of every deviation for each applicable power density. If necessary, the planning principle and proof of expected generation capacity is corrected if the compliance with statutory requirements possible power in the respective site is limited • Representation of instances in which by the capacity of the grid connection. A public and private interests may be schematic representation of the methodology affected for power output determination is shown in • Consent of or agreement with affected Figure 6. third parties • Regard to space-saving and considerate use of the site in the sense of section 2 subsection 2 No. 6 Spatial Development Act (ROG)
4.6 Planning horizon
4.7 Determination of expected Figure 6: Schematic representation of the methodology for power output determination generation capacity 4.7.3 Criteria for determining power output 4.7.1 Aim of the power output
determination
4.7.2 Methodology of the power output determination in Zone 1 and 2 Under simplified assumptions, the possible power output on a defined site is determined by plant engineering principles of wind turbines (in particular nominal power output, rotor diameter) as well as their distance from each other. However, in order to ensure the efficient planning of the offshore wind energy expansion and its grid connection, further criteria must be taken into consideration when determining the Guidelines and Basic Principles 25
in Betrieb/Bau Zuschlag Übergangsausschreibung
35
30 25 20 15
10 Figure 10: Long-term wind direction distribution in the North Sea (left: FINO 1, 90 m height) and in the Baltic Sea (right: FINO 2, Power density [MW/km²] 5 92 m height) (Source: Fraunhofer IWES) 0 0,0 0,5 1,0 1,5 2,0 Site/Circumference Figure 7: Power density of offshore wind farms in the German North Sea and Baltic Sea depending on their geometry
Figure 8: Mean wind speed [m/s] at 116 m height for COSMO−REA6 between 1995 and 2014 (Source: DWD) Figure 11: Exemplary application of criterion 2 for assessing the degree of shading from neighbouring wind farms
Specific capacity
= 𝑁𝑁 𝑊𝑊𝑊𝑊𝑊𝑊 𝑃𝑃 Specific𝑝𝑝 wind 𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟turbine capacity 𝐴𝐴 [Watts/m² of rotor area] 𝑝𝑝𝑊𝑊𝑊𝑊𝑊𝑊 Nominal wind turbine capacity [MW] Figure 9: Distribution of wind speed at 90 m height of FINO 1, Wind turbine rotor area [m²] FINO 2 and FINO 3 2009-2014 (Borsche, Kaiser-Weiss, & 𝑃𝑃𝑁𝑁 Kaspar, 2016) 𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟 𝐴𝐴
26 Guidelines and Basic Principles
Figure 12: Specific output power of wind turbines in European wind farms (Borrmann, Rehfeldt, Wallasch, & Lüers, 2018)
4.7.4 Power density to be applied
35,00 Nordsee Ostsee 30,00
25,00
20,00
15,00 Category B
10,00 Power denistiy [MW/km²] denistiy Power 5,00 Category A 0,00 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 Date of operation Figure 13: Power density of implemented and planned wind farms already awarded or with allocated grid connection in the North Sea and Baltic Sea
Table 2: Categorisation of the sites for determining the expected generation capacity Area category A B Power density to be 14 17 applied [MW/km²]
Guidelines and Basic Principles 27
4.7.5 Determination of expected generation capacity in zone 3
Corrected power density (Borrmann, Rehfeldt, Wallasch, & Lüers, 2018)
= + 1 2 ∗ 𝑁𝑁 𝐴𝐴𝑊𝑊𝑊𝑊 𝑚𝑚 𝑃𝑃 𝑝𝑝 �𝑛𝑛Corrected− � wind�� ∙ farm𝑊𝑊𝑊𝑊 power density 𝐴𝐴 [MW/km²] ∗ 𝐴𝐴𝑊𝑊𝑊𝑊 𝑝𝑝 Number of wind turbines in wind farm Figure 14: Corrected power output of European offshore wind Number of peripheral wind turbines 𝑛𝑛 farms (Borrmann, Rehfeldt, Wallasch, & Lüers, 2018) in wind farm
𝑚𝑚 Nominal wind turbine capacity [MW] Table 3: Exemplary comparison of (corrected) power densities for Wind farm area [km²] two offshore wind farms 𝑃𝑃𝑁𝑁 Wind farm Alpha Ventus Arkona 𝐴𝐴𝑊𝑊𝑊𝑊 Basin South East
Site [km²] approx. 4 approx. 37
Power density approx. 15.4 approx. 9.7 [MW/km²] Corr. Power density approx. 7.7 approx. 7.7 [MW/km²]
28 Guidelines and Basic Principles
4.8.1 Methodology for the application of the criteria 4.8 Criteria for determining the sites and the chronological sequence 4.8.2 Description of the criteria to be of their call for tenders applied The WindSeeG provides in section 5 4.8.2.1 Criterion 1: Efficient utilisation and subsection 4 the criteria that are to be applied loading of the offshore connecting for determining the sites in the Site cables including commissioning Development Plan as well as the chronological by the end of 2025 sequence of their call for tenders. The primary Table 4: Grid connection systems including commissioning by the aim of the determination is to ensure that the end of 2025 and available transmission capacity expansion of offshore wind turbines and the Name Year of Available corresponding connection systems in these commissioning transmission sites is synchronised, and that the existing capacity connecting cables are utilised and loaded North Sea sufficiently. This ensures that all offshore wind NOR-3-3 2023 658.25 MW turbines are connected in good time and that (DolWin6/kappa) there are no vacancies in the connecting Baltic Sea cables. This is to ensure that the expansion of -- the utilisation of wind energy takes place as cost-effectively as possible. This aim, as well as 4.8.2.2 Criterion 2: Orderly and efficient the general aim of the act to ensure a cost- planning, installation, effective expansion of the utilisation of offshore commissioning, utilisation and wind energy, is to be observed in the loading of the offshore connecting application of the criteria stated in section 5 cables including commissioning subsection 4 sentence 2 WindSeeG. The listing from 2026 onwards in sentence 2 is not definitive. Moreover, according to section 5 subsection 5 4.8.2.3 Criterion 3: Spatial proximity to the WindSeeG, the areas and sites and the coast chronological sequence of their tenders are determined such that offshore wind turbines with an expected generation capacity of 700 to 900 MW and of no more than an average of 840 MW are put out for tender at each tender deadline according to section 17 WindSeeG and brought into operation per calendar year from 2026 onwards.
Figure 15: German North Sea depicting the distance zones of the O-NDP
Guidelines and Basic Principles 29
Figure 16: German Baltic Sea depicting the distance zones of the O-NDP
4.8.2.4 Criterion 4: Usage conflicts on a site
4.8.2.5 Criterion 5: Probable actual development potential of a site
4.8.2.6 Criterion 6: Expected generation capacity
4.8.2.7 Criterion 7: Balanced distribution between North Sea and Baltic Sea
4.8.2.8 Supplementary criterion coastal waters: Actual availability of the site 30 Rules
5 Rules Table 5: Overview of areas for offshore wind energy Area Size The O-NDP zone 5.1 Areas for the installation and [km²] arrangement North Sea operation of offshore wind N-1 approx. 79 1 turbines N-2 approx. 223 1 According to section 5 subsection 1 No. 1 N-3 approx. 312 1 WindSeeG, the Site Development Plan contains N-4 approx. 152 1 determinations concerning areas for the N-5 approx. 185 2 installation and operation of offshore wind N-6 approx. 249 2 N-7 approx. 163 2 turbines. N-8 approx. 170 2 This plan currently nominates 13 areas8 in total N-9 approx. 196 3 in the EEZ of the North Sea and 3 areas in the N-10 approx. 162 3 EEZ of the Baltic Sea for offshore wind N-11 approx. 346 3 turbines. Please see chapter 4.6. N-12 approx. 237 3 For greater clarity, these areas are designated N-13 approx. 228 3 with the letter N or O for the North Sea or the Baltic Sea O-1 approx. 134 1 Baltic Sea respectively and including the O-2 approx. 101 1 numbers 1 to 13. O-3 approx. 30 1 The rule and delimitation of the areas is based in particular on the determinations of spatial
planning and the consideration of further public and private interests. Summaries of approved usages and protected areas as well as areas specified through spatial planning may be found in BFO-N 16/17 (Chapter 12) and BFO-O 16/17 (Chapter 11). Please see chapter 7. The rule of areas was largely transferred from the O-NDP or the BFO respectively. Areas N-1 to N-4 and all areas in the Baltic Sea are located in zone 1 of the O-NDP. Areas N-5 to N-8 are located in zone 2, areas N-9 to N-13 in zone 3 of the O-NDP.
8 The Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency has notices concerning usage conflicts which fundamentally call into question the rule of area N-5. In particular, considerations relating to conservation of wild birds as a public interest could hinder a rule. Please see chapter 7. Rules 31
Figure 17: Areas of the German EEZ of the North Sea
Figure 18: Areas of the German EEZ of the Baltic Sea 32 Rules
Area N-1 is located between the traffic The Federal Maritime and Hydrographic separation schemes "German Bight Western Agency has notices concerning usage conflicts, Approach" and "Terschelling German Bight". which fundamentally call into question a rule of South of the area is the nature conservation area N-5. In particular, considerations relating area "Borkum Riffgrund", and to the east the to conservation of wild birds as a public interest shipping priority area 3 for shipping determined could hinder a rule. Please see chapter 7. through spatial planning. On the western side of Area N-6 is located north of the traffic the area runs the EEZ border to The separation scheme "German Bight Western Netherlands. The area is located in the priority Approach". To the east the area is bordered by area for wind energy "North of Borkum" shipping reservation area 12 and in the determined through spatial planning. northerly direction by shipping route 6. To the Area N-2 is located north-east of the nature west of the area runs the EEZ border to The conservation area "Borkum Riffgrund" and is Netherlands. bordered in the north-easterly section by the Area N-7 is located north of the traffic pipeline "Norpipe". Towards south and north, it separation scheme "German Bight Western is bordered by the shipping reservation area Approach". To the west the area is bordered by that lies parallel to the traffic separation shipping reservation area 12 and in the schemes. The same applies to the eastern side. northerly direction by the pipelines reservation The area is located in the priority area for wind area ("Norpipe"). energy "North of Borkum" determined through spatial planning. Area N-8 corresponds to the priority area wind energy "East of Austerngrund" determined in Area N-3 is also located between the two traffic the Spatial Plan. To the west the area is separation schemes to the west of the priority bordered by the pipelines reservation area area for pipelines "Europipe 2", determined (Europipe 1), to the east and north by the through spatial planning. shipping routes 4, 5 and 6. The western half of the area lies in the priority area for wind energy "North of Borkum", Area N-9 is bordered by the shipping routes 6 determined through spatial planning. The and 10 as well as the pipelines reservation area pipeline "Europipe 1", which is secured by ("Norpipe"). corresponding pipeline priority and reservation Area N-10 lies between the shipping routes 4, 6 areas, runs through this area in a north-easterly and 10 and the pipelines reservation area direction. ("Europipe 1"). Area N-4 is located north of Helgoland. At the Area N-11 is bordered by the shipping routes 4, eastern side it borders the bird sanctuary 5 and 6, the cross-border cable "NorNed" and "Eastern German Bight" or respectively section the nature conservation area "Sylt Outer Reef – II of the nature conservation area "Sylt Outer Eastern German Bight". Reef – Eastern German Bight". This area corresponds to the wind energy priority area Area N-12 is bordered by the shipping routes 4 "South of Amrum Bank" determined in the and 10 and the cross-border cable "NorNed". Spatial Plan. Area N-13 is bordered by the shipping route 10 The area N-5 is located to the west of Sylt in or and nature conservation area "Sylt Outer Reef at the edge of the nature conservation area – Eastern German Bight". "Sylt Outer Reef – Eastern German Bight". Rules 33
Area O-1 ("West of Adlergrund") is located north-east of the island of Rügen at the border to the Polish EEZ. The area is located to the 5.2 Sites for the installation and north of the nature conservation area operation of offshore wind "Pommerian Bight - Rönnebank" as well as turbines north of the priority area 21 for shipping. To the west of the area is the priority area 20 for 5.2.1 Rules of sites shipping, and on the eastern side extends the Table 6: Overview of sites for offshore wind energy EEZ border to Poland. The area includes the Area Site Site size Connection wind energy priority area "West of Adlergrund", [km²] concept determined through spatial planning. North Sea Area O-2 ("Arkona Sea") lies north-east of the N-1 - - - N-2 - - - island of Rügen. The area is bordered to the N-3 N-3.5 approx. 17 66 kV north, east and south by the priority area 19, 20 N-3.6 approx. 43 66 kV and 21 for shipping. In the west the area N-3.7 approx. 19 155 kV1) borders onto a research reservation area. N-3.8 approx. 23 155 kV1) Area O-3 ("Kriegers Flak") is located north-west N-4 - - - 2) of the island of Rügen. The area is bordered in N-5 N-5.4 approx. 56 n.s. N-6 N-6.6 approx. 42 155 kV3) the north by the Swedish EEZ border, in the N-6.7 approx. 16 155 kV3) west by the Danish EEZ border and in the south N-7 N-7.2 approx. 52 66 kV and east by the priority area 19 for shipping. N-8 - - - This area encloses the priority area for wind N-9 N-9.14) approx. 864) 66 kV energy "Kriegers Flak", determined through Baltic Sea spatial planning. O-1 O-1.3 approx. 26 AC connection O-2 O-2.25) approx. 20 - O-3 - - -
1) The sites N-3.7 and N-3.8 will be connected to the connection system NOR-3-3 and thus with the 155 kV connection concept, which will become operational in 2023. 2) The rule of site N-5.4 is fundamentally in doubt. Please see chapters 5.1, 5.2.2 and 7. 3) The sites N-6.6 and N-6.7 will be connected with the 155 kV connection system due to their comparatively large distance from each other as well as the spatial limitations for cable routes. 4) The site N-9.1 is not fully required to achieve the statutory expansion target. In Chapter 5.5, therefore, only a sub-site of the specified site N-9.1 is taken into consideration. 5) The rule of the site O-2.2 is in doubt. Please see chapters 5.2.2 and 7.
34 Rules
North Sea
Figure 19: Sites of the German EEZ of the North Sea Notes: Re. N-5.4: The determination of the site N-5.4 is fundamentally in doubt. Please see chapters 5.1, 5.2.2 and 7.
Rules 35
Figure 20: Sites in the areas N-3, N-6, N-7 and N-9 in the German EEZ in the North Sea
36 Rules
Baltic Sea
Figure 21: Sites of the German EEZ of the Baltic Sea
Rules 37
5.2.2 Significant criteria for the decision concerning the stipulation of the areas Table 7: Overview of significant criteria for the decision against rule of an area Area Site Significant criteria for the decision against rule of an area North Sea N-5 N-5.4 Criterion 4 N-8 - Criterion 2 Baltic Sea O-11) - Criterion 4 and 6 O-21) O-2.2 Criterion 4, 5 and 6
1) See Chapter 6 in which available grid connection capacities for pilot offshore wind turbines in the areas O-1 and O-2 are identified. Concerning notes on possible usage conflicts, please see the environmental statement as well as Chapter 7.6. Exactly if and where the installation and operation of pilot offshore wind turbines will be permitted shall be solely decided by the authorisation procedure for pilot offshore wind turbines, which will take place at a later stage. 38 Rules
5.3 Expected generation capacity Table 8: Overview of expected generation capacity in the sites for offshore wind turbines Area Designation of Site size [km²] Power density Expected sites to be applied generation [MW/km²] capacity [MW]
North Sea N-3.5 approx. 17 14 234 N-3.6 approx. 43 15 1) 666 N-3 N-3.7 approx. 19 12 2) 225 N-3.8 approx. 23 14/17 3) 345 N-6.6 approx. 42 17 706 N-6 N-6.7 approx. 16 17 273 N-7 N-7.2 approx. 52 17 900 N-9 N-9.14) approx. 864) 12 1.0004) Baltic Sea O-1 O-1.3 approx. 26 11 2) 300 1) Individual rule taking into account the exploitation of a minimum capacity of 900 MW with DC connecting systems in the North Sea 2) Individual rule taking into account the available grid connection capacity 3) Due to a data cable, the site N-3.8 is separated into two sub-sites, wherein the applied power density is estimated at 17 MW/km2 for the north-eastern sub-site and the applied power density is estimated at 14 MW/km2 for the south-western sub-site. 4) Please see chapter 5.5 concerning the sub-site N-9.1.
Rules 39
5.4 Rules for coastal waters
Figure 22: Areas and sites in coastal waters initially submitted for possible nomination by Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, subject to the conclusion of an administrative agreement
5.4.1 Requirement for an administrative 5.4.4 Calendar year of commissioning of agreement the offshore wind turbines and the corresponding connection cables 5.4.2 Areas for the installation and operation of offshore wind turbines 5.4.5 Expected generation capacity
5.4.3 Sites for the installation and operation of offshore wind turbines 40 Rules
5.5.1 Chronological sequence of tenders 5.5 Chronological sequence of for the sites tenders for the sites
Table 9: Overview of the chronological sequence of tenders for the sites with the application of criteria 1 to 8 Calendar year Calendar year Area Grid Expected Total expected of call for of designation connection generation generation capacity tender commissioning (TF=sub-site) system capacity [MW] to be installed [MW]
N-3.7 NOR-3-31) 225 2021 2026 N-3.8 NOR-3-31) 345 870 O-1.3 OST-1-41) 300 2022 2027 N-7.2 NOR-7-21) 900 900 N-3.5 NOR-3-21) 234 2023 2028 900 N-3.6 NOR-3-21) 666 O-7.12) OST-7-11) 160 2024 2029 866 N-6.6 NOR-6-31) 706 N-6.7 NOR-6-31) 273 2025 2030 664 N-9.1 TF 1 NOR-9-11) 391 Total target system 4.200 Probable implementation by end of 2025 10.800 Probable implementation by end of 2030 15.000 1) Reference is made to the preparation, assessment and confirmation of the network development plan 2019-2030. 2) The prerequisite is, amongst others, the conclusion of an administrative agreement between Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency. Please see section 11 subsection 1 WindSeeG.
references to offshore connecting 5.5.2 Representation of the review of the cables, grid connection points and chronological sequence based on the network expansion on land
Table 10: Overview of the information concerning offshore connecting cables with a commissioning date from 2026 onwards by the TSO according to the statement dated 15 June 2018 Name Probable grid connection point Earliest possible Probable transmission network completion operator OST-1-4 Area Lubmin/Siedenbrünzow probably 2026 50 Hertz Transmission GmbH NOR-7-2 Büttel 2027 TenneT TSO GmbH NOR-3-2 Hanekenfähr 2028 Amprion GmbH NOR-6-31) Hanekenfähr 2029 Amprion GmbH NOR-9-1 n.s. n.s. n.s. 1) According to the statement by the TSO dated 15 June 2018, the completion of a second offshore connecting cable with the grid connection point Hanekenfähr is not possible before 2029 due to the overall (also land-based) planning and installation time and the relatively long cable section on land.
Rules 41
Table 12: Overview of utilisation of gates 5.6 Calendar year of the Border Subsea cable systems commissioning for offshore corridor wind turbines and connecting N-I (1) NOR-1-1/DolWin5 (2) NOR-8-1/BorWin3 cables (3) NOR-2-3/DolWin3 Table 11: Overview of calendar years of commissioning of (4) COBRAcable offshore connecting cables, on acceptance of the notes provided N-II (1) NOR-7-1/BorWin5 in chapter 5.5 (2) NOR-3-1/DolWin2 Name Calendar year of Transmission (3) NOR-2-2/DolWin1 commissioning capacity [MW] (4) NOR-2-1 (alpha ventus) OST-1-4 2026 300 (5) NOR-6-1/BorWin1 1) 1) OST-7-1 2027 n.s. (6) NOR-6-2/BorWin2 NOR-7-2 2027 900 (7) NOR-3-3/DolWin6 NOR-3-2 2028 900 (8) NOR-3-2 NOR-6-3 2029 979 (9) NOR-6-3 NOR-9-1 2030 1.000 (10) NOR-9-1
N-III (1) Interconnector to Norway 1) The prerequisite is, amongst others, the conclusion of (2) Interconnector to Great Britain an administrative agreement between Mecklenburg- N-IV (1) NOR-7-2 Western Pomerania and the Federal Maritime and N-V (1) NOR-4-2/HelWin2 Hydrographic Agency. Please see section 11 subsection 1 WindSeeG. (2) NOR-4-1/HelWin1 (3) NOR-5-1/SylWin1 5.7 Locations of converter (4) NordLink (5) NOR-7-2 platforms, collector platforms O-I (1) OST-1-1 and transformer platforms (2) OST-1-2 (3) OST-1-3 5.8 Routes or route corridors for (4) OST-2-1 (5) OST-2-2 offshore connecting cables (6) OST-2-3 (7) OST-1-4 5.9 Gates to coastal waters (8) Interconnector to Sweden (9) Interconnector to Denmark 5.9.1 Current state O-II (1) OST-2-1 (2) Cross connection between 5.9.2 Rules of gates to coastal waters "Arcadis East 1" and "Baltic Eagle" O-III (1) OST-3-1 (2) OST-3-2 (3) Interconnector to Sweden (4) Interconnector to Sweden (5) Interconnector to Denmark O-IV (1) Kontek (2) Interconnector to Denmark O-V (1) Interconnector to Denmark O-XIV (1) Interconnector to Denmark
42 Rules
spatially integrated in a coordinated overall 5.10 Routes and route corridors for system, i.e. in particular with regard to cross-border cables connecting lines for offshore wind farms. (interconnectors) On the basis of TYNPD 2016 (cf. section 2.5.4) Cross-border cables (interconnectors) in the and the ENTSO-E System Needs Report on sense of this plan are subsea cable systems TYNDP 2018 (ENTSO-E AISBL, 2018), routes that pass through at least two states bordering or route corridors for the following potential the North Sea or the Baltic Sea. cross-border power lines are to be secured in spatial terms. 5.10.1 Current state As part of this plan, six additional cross-border Multiple cross-border cables (interconnectors) cables (interconnectors) will be stipulated in the pass through the German EEZ of the North North Sea EEZ. Of these, two connections Sea. Firstly, there is a cross-border cable landing in Germany are planned. Both start at system (interconnectors) in operation called gate N-III in Lower Saxony. The interconnector "NorNed" that connects Norway and The to Norway runs here in parallel to "Europipe 2", Netherlands. Furthermore, the project shipping route 4 and shipping route 5 up to the "COBRAcable" is currently under construction, "Sylt Outer Reef – Eastern German Bight" which will connect The Netherlands and nature conservation area, then at the boundary Denmark. Moreover, the project "NordLink", of the nature conservation area up to the which has been approved and is under "NorNed" interconnector, and is then bundled construction, extends through the German EEZ with this to gate N-IX. to connect Norway and Germany. The project "Viking Link" to connect Denmark with Great The second interconnector landing in Germany Britain is currently undergoing the approval leads to Great Britain. There are two alternative process. routes for this one. Both routes start at gate N- III and then run parallel to "Europipe 2" in a Cross-border cables (interconnectors) are also northerly direction to the northern edge of in operation in the German EEZ of the Baltic shipping route 2. From there, the route leads Sea: "Kontek" (linking Denmark and Germany) west to the crossing of "Europipe 1", at which and "Baltic Cable" (between Sweden and point the two routes separate. One route leads Germany). south of the N-7 and N-6 areas and on to the The cross-border cable by the name of west, to gate N-XVIII. The other alternative is "Kriegers Flak Combined Grid Solution" is also planned to run parallel to the "Norpipe" pipeline under construction. This project will link or along the western EEZ border to gate N-XIII. Denmark and Germany by combining Danish and German offshore wind farm projects. In addition, four further cross-border cables (interconnectors) are planned which merely 5.10.2 Rule of routes and route corridors for cross the German EEZ and may link The cross-border cables Netherlands with Denmark or Norway. Two (interconnectors) routes run on both sides of shipping route 10 This plan is intended to secure space for routes and connect gates N-VIII and N-XVII, as well as or route corridors for potential cross-border gates N-X and N-XVI. One system is planned to cables (interconnectors) so as to be able to run parallel to "Viking Link". Another system ensure in future that the existing and planned connects gates N-XII and N-XV. This runs cross-border cables (interconnectors) can be mostly parallel to the "Norpipe" and then Rules 43
continues along the EEZ boundary to gate N- Pomerania as well as the EEZs of Denmark, XV. Sweden and Poland. In the Baltic Sea EEZ, eight routes will be The gates in this plan should therefore be established for cross-border cables connecting defined in close consultation with the coastal German coastal waters with the EEZs of states and neighbouring countries. In areas Denmark and Sweden. Systems are also where it is possible to do so based on present planned for the area of the Fehmarn Belt knowledge, gates for the bundling of subsea crossing (O-V to O-VI) and parallel to "Kontek" cable systems will be established in the (O-IV to O-VII). A further system to Denmark transitional areas to the coastal waters, and all leads from gate O-III to gate O-VIII. Two subsea cable systems landing in Germany are systems heading towards Sweden also to be routed via these. The intention here is to commence in gate O-III, subsequently running concentrate the cable systems at these points parallel to the "EnBW Baltic 2" wind farm to as far as possible, and to bundle them for gate O-IX. Another interconnector to Sweden further diversion towards the grid connection starts at gate O-I and runs parallel to area O-2 points. Please see chapter 5.9 with regard to to gate O-X. An interconnector towards the designation of gates for coastal waters. Bornholm from gate O-I is also planned, Reference is made to the planning running parallel to the existing connecting lines principle 4.4.4.3. to gate O-XII. A further interconnector is The gates N-VI to N-XIX and O-VI to O-XV, planned to run parallel to "NordStream 1" or planned at the outer boundary of the EEZ, between "NordStream 1" and "NordStream 2", serve to bundle possible cross-border cables connecting gates O-XIII and O-XIV. which have not yet been defined in terms of A route running from Poland to Denmark does their specific routing into or through the German not appear to be possible at present due to EEZ. The gates are based on existing plans for existing restrictions within the German EEZ. interconnectors and wind farms, as well as on existing pipelines and data cables. When Reference is made to the cartographic portrayal defining the gates, the existing plans for in the annex. offshore wind farms in neighbouring countries 5.10.3 Rules of gates for cross-border were also taken into account so as to permit cables (interconnectors) development of a sea-wide grid. Gate N-XIX has been extended sufficiently to make it It must be possible to direct the routes planned possible to route subsea cables to the gate in the Site Development Plan appropriately, north of the wind farms in The Netherlands. through the coastal waters or EEZs of adjacent On the German side, however, a route states to the grid connection points. The gates compliant with spatial planning appears to be serve as points at which the connecting lines possible only up to the converter site in area N- cross the border between the EEZ and the 1, so that this gate is primarily suitable for coastal waters, or to neighbouring countries. connecting the directly adjacent wind farms For the North Sea EEZ, this concerns the belonging to Germany and The Netherlands. coastal waters of Lower Saxony and Schleswig- Holstein and the EEZs of The Netherlands, Further coordination of gates N-VI to N-XIX and Great Britain and Denmark. For the Baltic Sea O-VI to O-XV for cross-border cables with region, this affects the coastal waters of neighbouring states is to take place within the Schleswig-Holstein and Mecklenburg-Western framework of the Site Development Plan 44 Rules
establishment procedure, the relevant Spatial Reference is made to the cartographic portrayal Plans or the relevant approval procedures. in the annex.
Table 13: Overview of the gates and routes for cross-border power lines as defined in the Site Development Plan Gate A Gate B Country A Country B North Sea N-III N-IX Germany Norway N-III N-XIII / N-XVIII Germany Great Britain N-VIII N-XVII Denmark / Norway Netherlands N-X N-XVI Denmark / Norway Netherlands N-XI N-XIV Denmark Great Britain N-XII N-XV Norway Netherlands Baltic Sea O-V O-VI Germany Denmark O-IV O-VII Germany Denmark O-III O-VIII Germany Denmark O-III O-IX Germany Sweden O-III O-IX Germany Sweden O-I O-X Germany Sweden O-I O-XII Germany Denmark O-XIV O-XIII Germany n.a.
5.11 For cross-connections between converter/transformer platforms Table 14: Overview of the routes defined in the Site Development Plan for connections between systems Platform A Platform B North Sea NOR-2-3/DolWin NOR-1-1/DolWin epsilon gamma NOR-3-2 NOR-3-1/DolWin beta NOR-6-1/BorWin alpha NOR-6-3 NOR-8-1/BorWin NOR-6-2/BorWin beta gamma NOR-7-1/BorWin epsilon NOR-7-2 NOR-8-1/BorWin NOR-7-1/BorWin epsilon gamma Baltic Sea Wikinger O-1.3 O-1.3 Baltic Eagle Baltic Eagle Arcadis East 1 Rules for pilot offshore wind turbines 45
6 Rules for pilot offshore wind turbines 6.2 Spatial specifications
6.1 Available grid connection 6.3 Technical conditions and capacities prerequisites for grid connection Table 15: Grid connection capacities available for pilot offshore wind turbines Connecting line Available grid Summary connection capacities for pilot offshore wind • Consent of or agreement with affected turbines third parties, for example North Sea - Offshore wind farm projects for the NOR-2-2 88 MW use of the transformer platform and /DolWin1/alpha for spatial and technical integration in NOR-2-3 50 MW its projects /DolWin3/gamma NOR-3-3 approx. 88.25 MW - Adjacent offshore wind farm projects /DolWin6/kappa - Responsible TSO, e.g. for testing NOR-4-2 32 MW1) operation of the connecting line in /HelWin2/beta compliance with the approval NOR-6-2 14.4 MW /BorWin2/beta (e.g. compliance with temperature Baltic Sea criteria) and for distributing power OST-1-3 5 MW if multiple AC cables are available OST-2-1 3 MW • Interface agreement with offshore wind OST-2-3 23.75 MW farm project sponsors or TSOs for connection to the platform 1) The grid connection capacity available in area N-4 for pilot offshore wind turbines will be reduced to 32 MW, since the 62 MW capacity available on the NOR-4-2 connection system (HelWin2/beta) will be partly released for the NOR-7-2 connection system to be set up at the Büttel grid connection point. 46 Conformity of the rules with private and public concerns
7 Conformity of the rules balancing decision was already made in accordance with the applicable provisions in with private and public which the concerns were weighed against and concerns among one another. The rules of the Site Development Plan are The admissibility of the rules was examined by a manifestation of a planning process offering the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania scope for manoeuvre. Public and private for the coastal waters of Mecklenburg-Western interests are to be determined, adjusted, Pomerania. Please see the environmental evaluated and balanced within the framework of report of the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania the planning consideration. spatial development programme (LEP-MV) with regard to the threat to the marine environment. According to section 5 subsection 3 of the WindSeeG, spatial rules are inadmissible if 7.1 Legal grounds for exclusion there are overriding opposing public or private interests. A catalogue lists the particular 7.1.1 Compliance with requirements of concerns involved. If any of these reasons for spatial planning exclusion exists, a rule is inadmissible in any Any provisions that fail to comply with 9 case. The list of concerns is not exhaustive. requirements of spatial planning according to Individual concerns must be weighed against section 17 subsection 3 of the Federal Spatial each other where there is competition between Planning Act are inadmissible. This will then them. involve the land use aspects of the rules For the rule of sites and areas according to according to regional criteria. According to section 5 subsection 1 nos. 1 and 2 of the section 3 subsection 1 No. 1 of the Federal WindSeeG which are located in a cluster Spatial Planning Act, the requirements of defined by the Spatial Offshore Grid Plan (BFO) spatial planning represent the generic term for under section 17a of the Energy Industry Act, or spatial planning objectives, principles and other in a priority, reserved or designated area of requirements of spatial planning. According to a Spatial Plan according to section 17 section 4 subsection 1 No. 1 of the Federal subsection 3 sentence 1 of the Federal Spatial Spatial Planning Act, the spatial planning planning Act, the admissibility of the rule need objectives must be observed in regionally only be examined if additional or other significant planning operations and measures, significant aspects are discernible or if updates and other requirements of spatial planning must and in-depth examinations are required (cf. be taken into account in balancing or section 5 subsection 3 sentence 3 of the discretionary decisions. WindSeeG). The background to this is that The Spatial Plans for the German Exclusive when examining the rules of the clusters in the Economic Zone in the North and Baltic Sea Spatial Offshore Grid Plan and priority, EEZs10 for the first time specify spatial planning reserved or designated sites in the Spatial
Plans for the North Sea and Baltic Sea EEZs, a 10 Appendix volume to Federal Law Gazette I No. 61 of 25 September 2009, annex to the Ordinance on Spatial 9 Cf. BT DrS 18/8860 of 21 July 2016, draft bill of the Planning in the German Exclusive Economic Zone in the CDU/CSU and SPD parliamentary groups, draft bill on the North Sea; appendix volume to the Federal Law Gazette I introduction of calls for tenders relating to renewable No. 78 of 18 December 2009, annex to the Ordinance on energies and further amendments to the law on renewable Spatial Planning in the German Exclusive Economic Zone energies, p. 273. in the Baltic Sea. Conformity of the rules with private and public concerns 47
objectives and principles for this region with Conservation Act. This means that in particular, regard to economic and scientific use, ensuring the requirements of statutory biotope the safety and ease of shipping traffic and conservation (section 30 of the Federal Nature protection of the marine environment. Conservation Act), European conservation of Guidelines for spatial development are natural habitats (section 34 of the Federal formulated and objectives and principles are Nature Conservation Act) and special wildlife defined, in particular areas for uses and conservation (sections 44 ff. of the Federal functions. The Spatial Plan defines coordinated Nature Conservation Act) must be observed. rules for the individual uses and functions of The corresponding examinations were carried shipping, extraction of raw materials, pipelines out as part of the Strategic Environmental and subsea cables, scientific marine research, Assessment and presented in the wind power generation, fisheries and environmental reports. For assessment of the mariculture, and protection of the marine risk to the marine environment, reference is environment. made to chapters 7.3 to 7.6, the environmental reports and, for rules based on previous The rules of the draft were reviewed to ensure sectoral plans, the environmental reports for the that they are compliant with the spatial planning Spatial Offshore Grid Plan, in particular the objectives and principles. environmental report on the Spatial Offshore 7.1.2 No risk to the marine environment Grid Plan for EEZ 2016/17. According to section 5 subsection 3 sentence 2 7.1.3 No negative impact on safety or ease no. 2 of the WindSeeG, rules that endanger the of traffic marine environment are inadmissible. Rules that effect the safety and ease of traffic In this context, the existing provisions of are also inadmissible according to section 5 specific legislation, i.e. above all those relating subsection 3 sentence 2 no. 3 WindSeeG. to wildlife conservation and conservation of The rules of the areas in the North Sea and natural habitats, as well as the assessments Baltic Sea were largely taken from the clusters with regard to likely significant environmental already defined in the BFOs for the North Sea effects within the scope of the Strategic and Baltic Sea. As issues related to shipping Environmental Assessment, establish the fact have already been examined within the of the threat to the marine environment. framework of the preparation and updating of Reference is made to the maps in chapter 10 the BFO, re-examination of the areas and sites for the representation of the area. in accordance with section 5 subsection 3 Under Art. 1 of the Federal Nature sentence 3 WindSeeG is probably not Conservation Act (BNatSchG),11 all instruments necessary initially, with the exception of a few of nature conservation (with the exception of individual rules. chapter 2: Landscape planning) were extended Effects relating to air traffic will be discussed to the area of the German EEZ and the after the consultation. continental shelf in accordance with section 56 subsection 1 of the Federal Nature
11 Act dated 29 July 2009, Federal Law Gazette. I No. 51 p. 2542, last amended by article 1 of the Act dated 15 September 2017, Federal Law Gazette I p. 3434. 48 Conformity of the rules with private and public concerns
With this regulation, connection of the new 7.1.4 No impairment of the security of system to previous sectoral planning with the national and Alliance defence BFO is ensured. In particular, expansion of the According to section 5 section 3 subsection 4 use of offshore wind energy should initially take WindSeeG, the security of national and Alliance place in the clusters already examined in more defence must not be impaired by any rules. detail and in the coastal area designated by a The rules of the areas in the North Sea and country. The opening clause ensures that Baltic Sea were largely taken from the clusters planning can go beyond the stated BFO already defined in the BFOs for the North Sea clusters and areas and sites in coastal waters if and Baltic Sea. Concerns relating to national this is necessary in order to achieve the and Alliance defence have already been expansion objective. examined within the framework of the establishment and updating of the BFO, so re- 7.2 Other public and private examination of the areas and sites according to interests section 5 subsection 3 sentence 3 WindSeeG is In addition to the reasons for exclusion probably not necessary initially, apart from a expressly listed in section 5 subsection 3 few individual rules. sentence 2 WindSeeG, a number of other concerns are relevant within the framework of 7.1.5 No location in legally designated the review of the Site Development Plan rules protected area according to section 5 subsection 3 sentence 1 Section 5 subsection 3 sentence 2 no. 5 WindSeeG. These include, among others, other WindSeeG stipulates that rules of areas or sites uses such as planned and existing data cables, in protected sites designated in accordance pipelines and mining activities, the concerns of with section 57 of the Federal Nature the fishing industry, health and safety at work, Conservation Act are inadmissible. The rules of cultural heritage, disaster control, the economic the areas in the North Sea and Baltic Sea were costs of constructing and operating wind farms, largely taken from the clusters already defined and the economic costs of constructing and in the BFOs for the North Sea and Baltic Sea. operating offshore connecting lines. Therefore, areas and sites are not specified in nature conservation sites. The latter is also taken into account in the rule of the sites and the chronological order of their 7.1.6 No location outside areas and sites tendering via criterion 1 of efficient use and designated in BFO clusters or by utilisation of the connecting lines and criterion 2 coastal states of efficient planning, construction and use of the The rule of areas or sites outside clusters 1 to 8 connecting lines still to be completed in in the North Sea and clusters 1 to 3 in the Baltic accordance with section 5 subsection 4 Sea of the BFO, or the areas or sites sentence 2 nos. 1 and 2 WindSeeG. This also designated by a coastal state in coastal waters, applies to the geographical proximity to the are inadmissible according to section 5 coast according to section 5 subsection 4 subsection 3 sentence 2 no. 5b WindSeeG. sentence 3 no. 3 WindSeeG, which influences This does not apply if sufficient areas and sites the costs of the offshore connecting line. The cannot be defined in these clusters, areas and operational costs are included in the rules of the sites in order to achieve the expansion target draft via the criteria of geographical proximity to according to section 4 no. 2b of the Renewable the coast, the expected actual development Energy Sources Act (15 GW in 2030). potential, chronological order and the expected Conformity of the rules with private and public concerns 49
generation capacity, which are also mentioned The requirements of spatial planning are taken in section 5 subsection 4 sentence 2 up by the following planning principles in the WindSeeG. Please see chapter 4.8.1. draft Site Development Plan:
The interests of existing projects that have not - the principle of overall coordination of been awarded contracts in the tendering construction and laying work over time procedures are not private or public interests the objective of respecting nature which preclude rule.12 This is indicated by the - conservation areas and taking legally wording of section 5 subsection 3 sentence 2 protected biotopes into account WindSeeG, which lists the concerns with a potential degree of involvement and does not - the objective or principle stating that the mention the right of subrogation. Even if the safety and efficiency of shipping must not right of subrogation – contrary to the be compromised explanatory memorandum – were a private - the objective of dismantling wind turbines, interest, there is no right to specify a site or a subsea cables and pipelines certain site layout. - the objective of taking into account all Insofar as the prerequisites for the right of existing and authorised uses subrogation according to sections 39 ff. WindSeeG are met, it is in all events relevant - the principle of taking into account that the right of subrogation according to locations where cultural assets have been section 39 of the WindSeeG can be assigned found with a predominant proportion for the - the principle of economic area use subsequent exercising of the right of the principle of bundling of subsea cable subrogation. - systems
7.3 Prevention of the occurrence of - the objective of ensuring that shipping the exclusion criteria through traffic crosses priority and reservation areas by the shortest possible route planning principles As a basis, planning principles were introduced - the principle of least intrusive laying in order to prevent hazards to the marine procedures environment, impairments to safety and ease of The following planning principles concern traffic, and impairments to safety and ease of threats to the marine environment: national and Alliance defence, and to mitigate Overall chronological coordination of these to such an extent that there are no - installation works impairments or hazards. Besides the general principles, the planning principles also - Consideration of nature conservation areas specifically concern areas and sites, platforms and regard to legally protected biotopes and subsea cable systems (see chapter 4.4). - Dismantling of wind turbines, subsea cables and pipelines
Consideration of locations of cultural assets 12 Cf. BT DrS 18/8860 of 21 June 2016, draft bill of the - CDU/CSU and SPD parliamentary groups, draft bill on the - Noise mitigation introduction of tenders from renewable energies and further amendments to the law on renewable energies, p. - Minimisation of scour protection 273. 50 Conformity of the rules with private and public concerns
- Consideration of regulatory standards, The following planning principles serve to specifications and concepts prevent impairment of the safety and ease of national and Alliance defence - Emission mitigation Consideration of all existing and approved Economic area use - - usages - Bundling of subsea cable systems - Dismantling of wind turbines, subsea - Bundling of subsea cable systems in the cables and pipelines sense of parallel routing - Covering - Careful installation - Installation of sonar transponders Covering - With regard to other public and private - Mitigation of sediment heating (compliance concerns, health and safety at work concerns with 2 K criteria) are included in the draft via the planning The following planning principles serve to principle of compliance with official standards; prevent impairments to the safety and efficiency as are data cables and pipelines via the of shipping: planning principle that involves taking existing and approved uses into consideration. - Overall chronological coordination of installation works
- No negative impact on safety and efficiency of shipping
- Dismantling of wind turbines, subsea cables and pipelines
- Bundling of subsea cable systems in the sense of parallel routing
- Ensuring that shipping traffic crosses priority and reservation areas by the shortest possible route
- Consideration of regulatory standards, specifications and concepts
- Perpendicular crossing of shipping priority and shipping reservation areas
- Preventing crossings; any crossings should be as perpendicular as possible
- Accessibility of platforms with ships - Careful installation - Covering As regards air traffic, a planning principle has been introduced stating that the safety and ease of air traffic must not be compromised. Conformity of the rules with private and public concerns 51
Eastern German Bight" nature conservation 7.4 Admissibility of the rule of areas area. The rules of areas in the North Sea and Baltic The Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Sea were largely taken from the clusters Agency has notices concerning usage conflicts, already defined in the BFOs for the North Sea which basically call into question a rule of and Baltic Sea. As related issues have already Cluster 5 of BFO-N 16/17 as area N-5. been examined within the framework of the In particular, considerations relating to preparation and updating of the BFO, conservation of wild birds as a public interest re-examination according to section 5 could hinder a rule. Accordingly, the area will subsection 3 sentence 3 WindSeeG is generally not be designated for the time being, but is still not required. Updating or consolidation of the under review. examination is probably not necessary beyond the aspects described below, due to the last Furthermore, the rules of the areas are not update which took place as recently as the end inadmissible according to section 5 of 2017. subsection 3 sentence 2 no. 5b WindSeeG, according to which areas and sites must lie The designated areas are in any case outside within clusters 1 to 8 of the North Sea and the priority and reservation areas for shipping clusters 1 to 3 of the Baltic Sea as defined by traffic and outside nature conservation areas. the BFO. The rules of areas and sites in With regard to military training areas, there are the North Sea and Baltic Sea were largely overlaps with rules of areas in the draft. Thus taken from the clusters already defined in the areas N-3, N-4, O-1, O-2 and large parts of O-3 BFOs for the North Sea and Baltic Sea. Area N- are located within military training areas. As the 9 is located outside clusters 1 to 8 of the BFO areas have already been defined as clusters for the North Sea, but it may be necessary to with the BFO North Sea and Baltic Sea, and specify a site in area N-9 with site N-9.1 partly as priority areas for wind energy in the in order to safely achieve the expansion target Spatial Plan for the North Sea, and no according to section 5 subsection 3 sentence 2 additional, other significant or new aspects are no. 5b last clause of the WindSeeG. The sites discernible, admissibility according to section 5 in areas N-10, N-11 and N-12 listed in the subsection 3 sentence 3 of the WindSeeG does annex for an enhanced development pathway not need to be re-examined for the time being. are also outside clusters 1 to 8. However, these For area N-4, there are indications of conflicts were initially presented for information purposes of use, but these have not yet become more only, and would also be necessary in order to acute to the extent that a threat to the marine achieve an enhanced expansion target in the environment must be assumed at the planning event of a time-frame extending in part beyond level (see chapters 4.6 and 5.2.2 of the 2030 in accordance with section 5 subsection 1 environmental report for the North Sea). of the WindSeeG. The draft Site Development Plan does not Concerns have been expressed with regard to define a zone in this site either. the rule of areas N-11 and N-13. The Federal In area N-5, a zone for the existing "Butendiek" Ministry for the Environment, Nature wind farm as the easternmost wind farm was Conservation and Nuclear Safety and the not designated. A stipulation here would be Federal Agency for Nature Conservation inadmissible according to section 5 subsection recently pointed out, in their statement in 3 sentence 2 no. 5a WindSeeG, as the site respect of the consultation on the preliminary would be located in the "Sylt Outer Reef – draft of the Site Development Plan, that 52 Conformity of the rules with private and public concerns
clusters 13 and 11 are also very important for harbour porpoises (main concentration area for 7.5 Admissibility of the rule of sites harbour porpoises) and for seabirds and resting The specified sites are beyond the priority and birds as resting and feeding habitats, as well as reservation areas for shipping traffic and overwintering habitats. If absolutely necessary, outside nature conservation sites. Please see however, clusters 9, 10 and only then cluster 12 chapter 7.4 with regard to the location of should be developed first by offshore wind individual sites in military training areas. farms (see the statement dated 25 June 2018 As regards site N-3.7, there are no overriding by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, private concerns preventing rule by awarding a Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety and contract with location coordinates in a call for the statement dated 14 June 2018 by the tenders for existing projects. If a contract is Federal Agency for Nature Conservation). awarded only to the extent of the minimum or As development of the areas in zone 3 may be secondary bid size, as a result only a smaller necessary in order to implement the installed line will be used as a basis for the development pathway, the comment was taken approval procedure for wind turbines, i.e. the into account in the draft of the Site number of turbines and their locations will Development Plan within the framework of the deviate from the original approval or rules by initially defining a site for area N-9 only. application.13 Coordinates in the contract are Accordingly, sites in areas N-9, N-10 and N-12 used only for clear local allocation of the wind are initially presented for information purposes farm and to prevent the contract from being in the annex for an enhanced development transferred to another project in another site, path. Sites in area N-11 would probably only be and do not indicate a claim to the entire site. designated for scenario B 2035 of the scenario Moreover, the principle of economic area use in framework 2019-2030. No threat to the marine accordance with section 2 subsection 2 no. 6 of environment is therefore assumed initially (see the Spatial Development Act (ROG) and the the environmental report, chapters 4.5.1, 4.6.1, early use of vacant areas in accordance with 5.1.2, 5.2.2 and 6). section 5 subsection 4 sentence 2 no. 2 WindSeeG run counter to a corresponding use Area O-3 in the eastern area was reduced to of the site merely for the reduced capacity of the site of the existing "Baltic 2" wind farm in the partial contract. Rule of the site will continue order to counter the threat to national and after the consultation. Alliance defence posed by military training areas located in the east of area O-3. With regard to site N-5.4, it is currently being examined whether considerations relating to the [further elaboration will take place after the conservation of wild birds would prevent a rule. consultation] In accordance with section 5 subsection 3 sentence 3 WindSeeG, sites currently located in BFO clusters may also be checked for inadmissibility in the event of necessary
13 BT-DrS. 18/9096 of 6 July 2016, Recommendation and report of the Committee on Economic and Energy Affairs (9th Committee) on the draft bill of the CDU/CSU and SPD parliamentary groups – Journal 18/8860 – and on the draft bill of the Federal Government – Journals 18/8832, 18/8972 – pp. 301, 302. Conformity of the rules with private and public concerns 53
updates or in-depth examinations. In its bidding procedure. The background to this is statement on the preliminary draft of the Site the location of cluster 5 in a region of particular Development Plan dated 14 June 2018, the importance for divers and harbour porpoises. Federal Agency for Nature Conservation The same was requested by the Federal pointed out that it was necessary, for reasons Agency for Nature Conservation in the context relating to the conservation of wild birds, not to of the O-NDP 2017-2030 consultation (cf. develop the site. Accompanying observations Federal Agency for Nature Conservation had shown that the wind farm areas were statement dated 22 February 2017, which is practically prevented entirely and that densities also an annex to Federal Agency for Nature of divers (loons) in areas around wind farms Conservation statement on BFO-N 16/17 dated were statistically significantly lower up to 26 July 2017). The problem with regard to the distances of approx. 10 km. This had been main distribution area for divers was already confirmed by various surveys. Following a described in BFO-N 2016/17, and also in comparative analysis, the prevention radius has BFO-N 2013/14 (see also chapters 4.6.1, shifted from a 2 km interference radius to 4.12.4, 5.2.2.1 and 6.3.3.2 in the environmental 5.5 km. It can therefore be assumed that habitat report). loss due to development of the site is greater With regard to site O-1.3, concerns were than previously assumed. The "Nördlicher expressed by the Directorate-General for Grund" wind farm would probably not be eligible Waterways and Shipping in its statement for approval according to regulations relating to regarding possible hazards to shipping traffic. wildlife conservation. The statement of the These can be clarified by means of a risk Federal Agency for Nature Conservation dated analysis as well as a nautical traffic and 24 November 2014 in the context of the maritime police investigation, as evidenced by updating of BFO-N 13/14 (on the sensitivity the statement on further investigations. report for the O-NDP in this respect) also points This may be presented and evaluated within the out that, from standpoint of nature conservation, context of the suitability examination. the "SylWin2" and "SylWin beta" connection should be postponed to after 2024 due to the The rule of site O-2.2 is still under location of the cluster in the main concentration consideration. Concerns relating to area for harbour porpoises and the main endangerment of shipping traffic and the marine concentration area for divers. Furthermore, the environment due to bird migration form Federal Agency for Nature Conservation a background to this. Moreover, there are pointed out in this statement that from the point indications of difficulties with regard to the of view of the Agency, and in order to comply expected actual development potential (see with the legal framework conditions, the main chapter 5.2.2 and chapters 4.12.5 and 5.2.2.1 concentration area for divers poses an obstacle in the environmental report for the Baltic Sea). to the approval of offshore wind farms planned [further elaboration will take place after for this region but not yet approved. As part of the consultation] the update of BFO-N 16/17, the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation demanded (cf. Federal 7.6 Admissibility of other rules Agency for Nature Conservation statement The locations of platforms, routes and route dated 26 July 2017) that the NOR-5-2 corridors for offshore connecting lines, as well connecting line should be removed if no as for cross-border power lines, for possible contract were awarded for a wind farm in connections between or among the turbines, cluster 5 during the transitional phase of the locations where the connecting lines cross the 54 Conformity of the rules with private and public concerns
boundary between the EEZ and coastal waters, the covering and mitigation of sediment and standardised technical and planning warming, reduce the effects, it is not assumed principles are also examined with regard to that the marine environment is endangered. whether they are admissible under section 5 Two cross-border cables cross the "Dogger subsection 3 sentence 2 WindSeeG. Bank" nature conservation area from gate N-XII According to the Federal Agency for Nature to gate N-XV, and from gate N-XIII to N-III. Conservation, the grid connections passing In the Baltic Sea, cross-border cables run from through gate N-II run across a sandbank that is gate O-XIV to gate O-XIII through the a legally protected biotope according to section "Pomeranian Bight – Rönnebank" nature 30 of the Federal Nature Conservation Act. This conservation area, and from gate O-V to gate does not significantly effect the biotope. O-VI through the "Fehmarn Belt" nature Available grid connection capacities for pilot conservation area. The Strategic Environmental offshore wind turbines exist in area N-2. Assessment has shown that this is unlikely to According to the Federal Agency for Nature have a significant impact on the environment Conservation, the southern part of area N-2 is (see chapter 6.5.1 of the environmental reports also located on the sandbank. The rule of for the North Sea and Baltic Sea). available grid connection capacities is not a [further elaboration will take place after the subject of the inadmissibility test according to consultation] the list in section 5 subsection 3 sentence 1 WindSeeG. Apart from that, however, the rule would not significantly effect the biotope (see chapter 6.5.1 of the environmental report). Exactly if and where the installation and operation of pilot offshore wind turbines will be permitted shall be solely decided by the authorisation procedure for pilot offshore wind turbines, which will take place at a later stage14. The connection system NOR-7-2 runs through the "Sylt Outer Reef – Eastern German Bight" nature conservation area. Some crossing structures are connected to this. This route is based on the need for crossing the remaining cables in the EEZ that pass through gate N-V. As the spatial use of the nature conservation area is very low, there are no known legally protected biotopes and the planning principles of the least intrusive laying procedure,
14 BT-DrS. 18/9096 of 6 July 2016, Recommendation and report of the Committee on Economic and Energy Affairs (9th Committee) on the draft bill of the CDU/CSU and SPD parliamentary groups – Journal 18/8860 – and on the draft bill of the Federal Government – Journals 18/8832, 18/8972 – pp. 373 Summary consideration 55
8 Summary consideration [elaboration will take place after the consultation]
56 Summary environmental statement
9 Summary environmental statement [elaboration will take place after the consultation]
Appendices: maps (for information) 57
10 Appendices: maps (for information)
Figure 23: Shipping routes in the North Sea EEZ Spatial Plan
Figure 24: Shipping routes in the Baltic Sea EEZ Spatial Plan
58 Appendices: maps (for information)
Figure 25: Designations: subsea cables, pipelines, traffic separation areas (North Sea)
Figure 26: Designations: subsea cables, pipelines, traffic separation areas (Baltic Sea) Appendices: maps (for information) 59
Figure 27: National defence territories (North Sea)
Figure 28: National defence territories (Baltic Sea) 60 Appendices: maps (for information)
Figure 29: Areas for the construction and operation of offshore wind turbines in the German North Sea EEZ and nature conservation areas.
Figure 30: Areas for the construction and operation of offshore wind turbines in the German Baltic Sea EEZ and nature conservation areas Bibliography 61
11 Bibliography Borrmann, R., Rehfeldt, D. K., Wallasch, A.-K., & Lüers, S. (2018). Approaches and standards for the determination of the capacity density of offshore wind farms. Downloaded from http://vasab.org/wp- content/uploads/2018/06/BalticLINes_CapacityDensityStudy_June2018-2.pdf Borsche, M., Kaiser-Weiss, A. K., & Kaspar, F. (2016). Wind speed variability between 10m and 116m height from global and regional re-analyses compared to wind mast measurements over Northern Germany and The Netherlands. Adv. Sci. Res.(13), pp. 151-161. Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (2009). Position paper from the business sector of the Federal Environmental Ministry on cumulative evaluation of diver habitat loss due to offshore wind farms in the German EEZ of the North Sea and Baltic Sea as a basis for an agreement of the BfN with the BSH. Downloaded from https://www.bfn.de/fileadmin/BfN/awz/Dokumente/seetaucher_positionspapier_bf.pdf Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (2013). Concept for protection of harbour porpoises from noise exposure during construction of offshore wind farms in the German North Sea (noise protection concept). Downloaded from https://www.bfn.de/fileadmin/BfN/awz/Dokumente/schallschutzkonzept_BMU.pdf Danish Energy Agency (2017). Master data register for wind turbines at end of December 2017. Downloaded from https://ens.dk/en/our-services/statistics-data-key-figures-and-energy- maps/overview-energy-sector DNV KEMA (2012). Study on minimum distances between subsea cables. On behalf of the Offshore Wind Energy Institute. Ehlers, P. (2016). Comment on the Marine Responsibilities Act (section 1). Baden-Baden: Nomos. ENTSO-E AISBL (2018). European Power System 2040, Completing the map, The Ten-Year Network Development Plan 2018 System Needs Analysis. Brussels. Hirth, L., & Müller, S. (2016). System-friendly wind power – How advanced wind turbine design can increase the economic value of electricity generated through wind power. Energy Economics 56. ICPC (November 2015). ICPC Recommendation #2, Recommended Routing and Reporting Criteria for Cables in Proximity to Others. Klinski, S. (2001). Legal problems of allowing wind turbines in the exclusive economic zone. Berlin: German Federal Environment Agency. Knorr, K., Horst, D., Bofinger, S., & Hochloff, P. (2017). Economic significance of offshore wind energy for the energy crisis. Varel: Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy and Energy System Technology. Leiding, T., Tinz, B., Gates, L., Rosenhagen, G., Herklotz, K., Senet, C., et al. (2016). Standardisation and comparative analysis of meteorological FINO measurement data (FINO123). Final report of BMWi Research Project FINO-Wind. 62 Bibliography
Luger, D. &. (2013). Anchor Test German Bight. Test set-up and results. Deltares on behalf of TenneT Offshore GmbH. Maushake, C. L.-H. (2013). : Study of penetration behaviour of ship's anchors by means of anchor traction tests. Report on the survey of anchor penetration depth. Federal Waterways Engineering and Research Institute on behalf of the Directorate-General for Waterways and Shipping – North-west Office. Platis, A., Siedersleben, S. K., Bange, J., Lampert, A., Bärfuss, K., Hankers, R., et al. (1 February 2018). First in-situ evidence of wakes in the far field behind offshore wind farms. Nature Scientific Reports.
Annex: Informational illustration of an increased development path (scenario framework 2019- 63 2030)
12 Annex: Informational connection points, it appears to be necessary, for implementation of the scenarios, for more illustration of an increased than one offshore connecting line per year to be development path implemented per TSO. Further examination would be necessary here. (scenario framework 2019- A further challenge could be presented by the 2030) availability of grid connection points, The scenario framework 2019-2030 approved network expansion on land and routing by the Federal Network Agency on 15 June through coastal waters. 2018 contains, on the basis of the coalition These challenges would have to be agreement of 12 March 2018, a development of overcome in order to implement the the expansion of offshore wind energy that scenarios. deviates from the objectives of the Renewable Reference is made to the preparation, Energy Sources Act and thus from the legal assessment and confirmation of the network requirements of the Site Development Plan. In development plan 2019-2030. statements on the preliminary draft of the Site Development Plan, with reference to the scenario framework 2019-2030, it was required that the Site Development Plan should demonstrate a corresponding scenario even before legal modification. In order to meet this requirement, the individual scenarios of the scenario framework 2019-2030, with possible definitions for each scenario, are presented here for information purposes only. In principle, if the expansion target is increased by 2030, bringing a higher output per year to tender than with the implementation of 15 GW by 2030 (base case) presents a challenge. For this reason, besides increasing the target from 15 GW by 2030 in accordance with section 4 subsection 2 no. 1 WindSeeG in connection with section 4 no. 2 b of the Renewable Energy Sources Act, a legal modification of the annual expansion corridor from 700 MW to 900 MW and an average of 840 MW according to section 5 subsection 5 WindSeeG would also be required. There is also the challenge of completing grid connection systems on time. According to current information, a transmission system operator can implement one offshore connecting line per year. On the basis of the information currently available on grid 64 Annex: Informational illustration of an increased development path (scenario framework 2019-2030)
12.1 Scenarios B 2030 and C 2030 (17 GW by 2030)
Figure 31: Informational figure of possible rules according to scenarios B and C 2030 (17 GW by 2030) and challenges to be overcome
Annex: Informational illustration of an increased development path (scenario framework 2019- 65 2030)
12.2 Scenario A 2030 (20 GW by 2030)
Figure 32: Informational figure of possible rules according to scenario A 2030 (20 GW by 2030) and challenges to be overcome
66 Annex: Informational illustration of an increased development path (scenario framework 2019-2030)
12.3 Scenario B 2035 (23.2 GW by 2035)
Figure 33: Informational figure of possible rules according to scenario B 2035 (23.2 GW by 2035) and challenges to be overcome
Annex: Informational illustration of an increased development path (scenario framework 2019- 67 2030)
12.4 Connecting lines that may be required for the scenarios
Table 16: Overview of the commissioning years which may be necessary for the offshore connecting lines in the various scenarios Designation Possibly necessary calendar year of commissioning for offshore connecting lines Basis Scenarios B and C Scenario A 2030 Scenario B 2035 (15 GW) 2030 (17 GW) (20 GW) (23.2 GW) OST-1-4 2026 2026 2026 2026 NOR-7-2 2027 2027 2027 2027 NOR-3-2 2028 2028 2027 2028 OST-7-11) 20291) 20271) 20271) 20271) NOR-6-3 2029 2029 2028 2029 NOR-9-1 2030 2029 2028 2029 NOR-9-2 - 2030 2029 2030 NOR-10-2 - 2030 2029 2030 NOR-10-1 - - 2030 2031 NOR-12-1 - - 2030 2032 NOR-12-2 - - 2030 2033 NOR-11-1 - - - 2034 NOR-11-2 - - - 2035
1) The prerequisite is, amongst others, the conclusion of an administrative agreement between Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency. Please see section 11 subsection 1 WindSeeG.