Germany - Services in the energy sector

Description

According to the German government's climate protection plan, almost complete decarbonization of the energy supply by 2045 is necessary for climate protection. The expansion of renewable energies, including offshore wind energy, in the German exclusive economic zone (EEZ) is also to contribute to this. The Wind Energy at Sea Act (WindSeeG) envisages increasing offshore wind energy capacity to at least 30 GW in 2030, 40 GW in 2035 and 70 GW in 2045. According to the coalition agreement, the energy turnaround is to be accelerated without reducing ecological protection standards. At the same time, the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, the EU Biodiversity Strategy and Marine Strategy Framework Directive, the Oslo-Paris Agreement and national law, among others, require protection and improvement of the ecological status of the marine environment. The further expansion of offshore wind energy must be compatible with nature.The question arises under which framework conditions an expansion of the area for the expansion of offshore wind energy is possible, taking into account the requirements of marine protection.In addition to wind energy and nature conservation, there are also utilization claims, such as raw material extraction and fishing, competing for the scarce areas. Land pressure and competition in the sea have increased. Thus, the question arises about the ecological carrying capacity of affected marine ecosystems as well as nature-compatible expansion paths for offshore wind energy in the EEZ of the North Sea and Baltic Sea.Against this background, the spatial development plan for the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the North Sea and Baltic Sea states that the Dogger Bank is well suited for wind energy use and should provide an additional potential of 4 - 6 GW if this is possible in a nature-compatible manner. To this end, the plan states that the federal government will commission studies on wind power use on the Dogger Bank in accordance with nature conservation objectives and that the ministries responsible for the environment and energy will submit a report to the cabinet by December 31, 2024.The planned project implements the requirements of the spatial plan with regard to the studies and serves to prepare this report. Its implementation pursues the following objectives:- To answer the question under which framework conditions the use of the Doggerbank NSG for offshore wind energy is possible in a nature-compatible manner- To determine the limits of the nature compatibility of the development of offshore wind energy in the Doggerbank NSG,- To determine the possibilities of reducing impacts from offshore wind energy plants in the Doggerbank NSG including perspective development possibilities as well as the conception of measures (combinations) for their short-, medium- and long-term legal and planning implementation.
The project consists of five work packages (WP), which can be divided into three project sections:In the first project section, consisting of the work packages 1, 2 and 3, the focus is on the collection of all relevant information and the elaboration of the conditions, including from an ecosystem perspective, of a possible use of the NSG "Doggerbank" by offshore wind energy. The legal and political framework conditions as well as the relevant technical aspects, in particular for the scenarios to be developed in the second project section for a possible nature-compatible use of the nature reserve "Doggerbank" by offshore wind energy, are to be analyzed and prepared and a suitable illustration of ecosystem interrelationships (modeling) is to be developed.In the second project section, consisting of work package 4, possible expansion scenarios as well as possibilities ("adjusting screws") for securing and increasing the nature compatibility of the expansion scenarios are to be developed on the basis of the results of the first project section.In the third project section, consisting of work package 5, the results from the second project section will be evaluated and, based on this, various expansion options that are compatible with nature will be presented, taking into account the strategic, legal and technical requirements.The overall purpose of the project is to present options for action in preparation for the preparation of the report for the federal cabinet by the responsible ministries (BMWK/BMUV).

Opportunity closing date

02 February 2023

Value of contract

to be confirmed