Germany’s Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH) has opened a public consultation on three areas it has determined are suitable for offshore wind farm development in the North and Baltic Seas.
The North Sea areas – N-3.7 and N-3.8 – are about 30 to 40km north of the island of Borkum, while in the Baltic Sea site O-1.3 is approximately 40km northeast of the island of Rugen.
The agency said that it has determined the sites suitable for offshore wind after a preliminary examination.
It added that the “prerequisite is that certain measures, such as protecting the marine environment or shipping, are implemented”.
BSH has outlined appropriate measures that could be prescribed as guidelines.
The aim is to put the three areas out to tender and auction next year, with commissioning of successful projects scheduled for 2026, it said.
BSH said that as part of the suitability test, a strategic environmental check is carried out and a report is drawn up for each area.
The report together with a draft of the suitability test have been published and the public have until 28 May to comment.
A discussion on the comments will take place on 17 June, the agency said.