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 21-22 May 2013, Riga, Latvia
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
Offshore windfarm projects under development Status: end 2012 Kaardi autor : Kristian Herkül
Proposal for National Spatial Plan Estonia 2030+. 4
Reasoning for site selection in the northwest of Hiiumaa 5
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 10 8 6 4 2 Jul 09 Aug 09 Sep 09 Oct 09 Nov 09 Dec 09 Pakri 80 m Vinkovi 80 m Ristna 80 m
Hiiumaa offshore windpark 7
Hiiumaa offshore windpark status 2013 Project snapshot Total Installed Capacity 700 1100 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 2015 8
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)
Advantages of Hiiumaa offshore project according to developer Strong winds average speed 8.5 m/s Shallow waters 10-30 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
Enviroment Impact Assessment Route of expedition plane of the bird study (Four times in year) Inventory of biota and habitat ss Fish study 1
Enviroment Impact Assessment timetable Operation Deadline 1. EIA programme compiled 2007 2. Field studies and data collection 2007-2008 3. Meetings with interested parties 31.05.2013 4. Environment Impact Assessment Report upgrading and adding 25.10.2013 alternative solutions 5. Submitting environmental impact assessments report to the Ministry of 01.11.2013 the Environment to disclosure 6. Environmental impact assessment on public display and public debate 18.11.2013 11.12.2013 7. Environment Impact Assessment Report upgrading 10.03.2014 8. 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) 31.03.2014 01.07.2014 12
Socioeconomic studies
Visualisation studies
Study on meteorological and hydrological regime, water quality, sediment dispersion
Sediment studies
Study on impact on coastguard radar system
Bird studies Ship counts Aerial counts Visual counts and historica data
Study on turbulence impact
Study on impact on wave climate
Study on fish and fisheries
Study on benthic habitats and biota
Benthic sampling station network Hiiumaa wind park study Total: 744 stations Sampling: 2007-2008
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
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/m2 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 Sügavused, m 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 Map by: Kristjan Herkül
Total phytobenthos cover at Hiiumaa wind park study areas Total cover (%) Apollo shallow Vinkov shallow Shallow 2 Shallow 1 Map by: Kristjan Herkül
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
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
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
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