News
In the next couple of years the occurrence of i.a. minke whales will be mapped in the environmental studies prior to the energy island in the North Sea
Following the recent tender undertaken by Energinet, NIRAS was awarded the assignment to undertake Strategic Environmental Assessments and execute environmental studies in connection with the proposed development of a new energy island in the North Sea, which will be located approx. 100 km from the Danish west coast. NIRAS specialists in Denmark and the UK will undertake the assignment along with a strong team of sub-consultants from DCE, University of St. Andrews, Bio-App, DNV and Integra Consult.
In NIRAS we work extensively within the fields of environment, sustainability, and energy. It is of immense importance to us to be part of such a pivotal project in the Danish energy sector. A complex, unique, and politically significant project, which we are looking forward to getting started on.
Betina Haugaard Heron, NIRAS’s Project Director
The plan comprises the establishment of the first energy island in the Northern Sea, as well as a 3 gigawatt offshore wind farm, with the option for a subsequent expansion to 10 gigawatts. The energy island will be the largest renewable energy project in Denmark and in the North Sea so far.
The team undertaking the environmental assessments and studies for Energinet has considerable experience working together. The team has also been leading the environmental studies for Energinet in connection with Hesselø Offshore Wind Farm.
NIRAS is a global player regarding offshore consultancy with specialists based in Europe and Asia and is delighted to have been awarded this new assignment by Energinet.
“Although we have more than 25 years of experience with consultancy from the early phase with preliminary studies of the establishment and operations of offshore wind farms, we are really looking forward to this assignment. The project presents new professional challenges with the establishment of an artificial island in addition to offshore wind farms. Detailed environmental studies are required during the next few years, including surveys of marine mammals where porpoises, white-beaked dolphins and common minke whales will be recorded,” Betina Haugaard Heron says and continues: “The energy island in the North Sea will be located much further away from the coast compared to earlier projects in Denmark, and in an area where the biology has yet to be recorded in as much detail as it has in many other ocean areas.”
A key part of the assignment is the preparation of a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of the plan for the establishment of the energy island, primarily based on existing data and information about environmental conditions, including wildlife.
The purpose is to identify the expected significant environmental impacts of the plan, and to suggest options to mitigate negative impacts. The SEA will be consulted with the public, where the public can comment and contribute on its findings. The information and assessments in the environmental report, as well as comments made at the hearing, will be taken into account in decisions made by the Danish Energy Agency (the authority responsible for the environmental assessment of the plans for the Energy Island) regarding the specific project to be executed.
NIRAS will, in addition, also draft a report in accordance with regulations in the Environmental Assessment Act, for the Danish Energy Agency to inform their assessment of the plans for the Energy Island.
Between now and 2024, NIRAS will undertake surveys and analysis of data for marine mammals, fish populations, and avifauna during different times of the year in the area where the proposed Energy Island and offshore wind farm will be located.
Data and reports from these studies will be used by Energinet and the Danish Energy Agency in the initial development of the energy island project. The environmental studies are also essential for the subsequent tendering process to select developers for the island and the surrounding wind farms.
The studies will aid developers in identifying potential risks in the project area, and are thus an essential source of information for those preparing their bids during the concession tendering process. The developers selected through this process will then undertake comprehensive environmental assessments of the specific projects.
We are looking forward to getting started with the assignment, which is both exciting and professionally challenging. The fact that the environment is such an important precondition for the execution of this significant project for the green transition only makes us more motivated.
Margot Møller Nielsen, Project manager on the assignment
A political majority has decided that two energy island are to be established in Denmark.
The environmental studies will be conducted based on both existing data and new studies in the North Sea between now and 2024. The deliverables for this work comprise:
