EIA case for Hiiumaa offshore wind farm in Estonia

Transcription

1 EIA case for Hiiumaa offshore wind farm in Estonia Georg Martin & Liis Rostin With contributions from Aune Aunapuu, Ramboll Eesti and materials from Nelja Energia Seminar on Environmental Impact Assessment in offshore windfarms and other large marine infrastructure May 2013, Riga, Latvia

2 Current status of offshore windfarm development in Estonia 1. No operational offshore windfarms yet in Estonian EEZ 2. Currently three projects under development (different stages, no permits issued) 3. EIA procedures carried out according to national regulations 4. EIA programme is proposed by developer, discussed and ammended in public consultation process and finally approved by MoE 5. No additional data collection formally required for EIA procedure 6. No officially recognised standards exist for EIA of offshore installations

3 Offshore windfarm projects under development Status: end 2012 Kaardi autor : Kristian Herkül

4 Proposal for National Spatial Plan Estonia

5 Reasoning for site selection in the northwest of Hiiumaa 5

6 Wind measurements Content Comments Wind speed comparison Pakri and Hiiumaa Offshore wind measurement (on Vinkov shoal) executed with SODAR system Measurements showed the average wind speed of 8.5 m/s during the period Offshore (Vinkovi) 80 m and Pakri 80 m (onshore) comparison shows 2.0 m/s higher average wind speed in Vinkovi during Jul-Dec 2009 SODAR system installed on Vinkov shoal Onshore wind measurement mast in Ristna, Hiiumaa Wind speed comparison 12 m/s Jul 09 Aug 09 Sep 09 Oct 09 Nov 09 Dec 09 Pakri 80 m Vinkovi 80 m Ristna 80 m

7 Hiiumaa offshore windpark 7

8 Hiiumaa offshore windpark status 2013 Project snapshot Total Installed Capacity MW Yearly Net Production Located on two shoals Distance from shoreline Depth 2.4-3,8 TWh/y Apollo, Vinkov shoals next to Hiiumaa island, Estonia At least 12 km Not more than 30 m Grid connection Connection to substation in Estonia Planned start up

9 Grid connection Grid connection application made to Elering (TSO). They provided connection precondition, where they showed possible connection points (new Kanapeeksi 330 kv substation in Hiiumaa)

10 Advantages of Hiiumaa offshore project according to developer Strong winds average speed 8.5 m/s Shallow waters m depth Close to the land Around 12 km Smooth sandy seabed No rocks Can install up to 1100 MW Significant capacity Hiiumaa offshore is an excellent location to cost-efficiently produce renewable energy 10

11 Enviroment Impact Assessment Route of expedition plane of the bird study (Four times in year) Inventory of biota and habitat ss Fish study 1

12 Enviroment Impact Assessment timetable Operation Deadline 1. EIA programme compiled Field studies and data collection Meetings with interested parties Environment Impact Assessment Report upgrading and adding alternative solutions 5. Submitting environmental impact assessments report to the Ministry of the Environment to disclosure 6. Environmental impact assessment on public display and public debate Environment Impact Assessment Report upgrading Environmental impact assessment revised report to the Ministry of the Environment for approval 9. Environmental impact assessment revised report participation in the approval process (Ministry of the Environment has 30 days to make a decision)

13 Socioeconomic studies

14 Visualisation studies

15 Study on meteorological and hydrological regime, water quality, sediment dispersion

16 Sediment studies

17 Study on impact on coastguard radar system

18 Bird studies Ship counts Aerial counts Visual counts and historica data

19 Study on turbulence impact

20 Study on impact on wave climate

21 Study on fish and fisheries

22 Study on benthic habitats and biota

23 Benthic sampling station network Hiiumaa wind park study Total: 744 stations Sampling:

24 Sediment composition at Hiiumaa wind park study areas Sediment mud sand gravel rubble stone Shallow 2 Vinkov shallow Apollo shallow Shallow 1 Map by: Kristjan Herkül

25 Total phytobenthos biomass at Hiiumaa wind park study areas Total biomass (g m -2 ) Apollo shallow Vinkov shallow Shallow 2 Shallow 1 Põhjataimestiku keskmine biomass, g/m Sügavused, m Map by: Kristjan Herkül

26 Total phytobenthos cover at Hiiumaa wind park study areas Total cover (%) Apollo shallow Vinkov shallow Shallow 2 Shallow 1 Map by: Kristjan Herkül

27 Total benthic biomass at Hiiumaa wind park study areas Total biomass (g m -2 ) Apollo shallow Vinkov shallow Shallow 2 Shallow 1 Map by: Kristjan Herkül

28 HD Annex I Habitat types at Hiiumaa wind park study areas Habitat reefs sandbanks Vinkov shallow Apollo shallow Shallow 2 Shallow 1 Map by: Kristjan Herkül

29 General findings: Lack of background data Status of biodiversity is not assessed (inventorised) on larger(national) scale difficult to quantify possible impact Proposed areas only in minor cases compete with other interests (e.g. nature conservation) General impact seems to be low Photo: Vattenfall/NOAA Sketch of Kihnu offshore wind farm in Estonia coastal sea

30 Conclusions Methodology for offshore investigations and data collection is avaialable and in use nationally. No common (national/international) standards/guidelines exist for EIA procedures for offshore installations need for development and official approval Lack of basic knowledge on possible impact of offshore installations on the marine environment and biota in conditions of NE Baltic Sea need for basic research and monitoring