Germans Start Investigating North Sea Offshore Wind Zones

Germany’s Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH) is launching the next round of preliminary investigations on two offshore wind farm areas in the North Sea.

The two areas, N-6.6 and N-6.7, are located some 100 kilometres northwest of the island Borkum. The N-6.6 area is expected to support wind turbines with a capacity of 630MW, and the area N-6.7 will support a wind farm with a capacity of 270MW.

If deemed suitable, the areas will be tendered in 2024 and put into operation in 2029, BSH said.

In order to determine the subject matter and the scope of the investigations for the preliminary examination of the areas, BSH has created and published a concept which is currently open for comments. Authorities, associations, companies, and the public have until 21 October to provide their feedback on the planned investigations.

The concept for the investigations will then be presented and discussed in a hearing to be held on 15 November.

The two areas for the preliminary investigation were defined in BSH’s Surface Development Plan 2019. Over the next few years, BSH will commission and partly carry out investigations into the marine environment and the subsoil, wind, waves, and other oceanographic parameters at these sites.

On the basis of the results of the investigations, BSH will determine if the areas are suitable for the construction of offshore wind farms, and pass on the information to Germany’s Federal Network Agency.