The German maritime and hydrographic agency BSH will no longer require offshore wind farm operators to renew the high-visibility yellow paint on turbine foundations.
The requirements for the initial painting are sufficient to meet international norms and recommendations, BSH said.
A annual inspection of the paint quality had been a previous requirement, followed by repainting if needed.
Scrapping the rule will save €400m for all existing wind farms in the country’s waters, the German Offshore Wind Energy Foundation said.
It added that a DNV GL report commissioned by the foundation had shown that the visible impact of the yellow paint was only needed for non-commercial shipping less than 1000 metres from the structures. Such situations are rare, the foundation said.
“We are happy that the competent authorities accepted our recommendations,” Foundation managing director Andreas Wagner said.
Image: reNEWS
Germans relax offshore paint rule
By EBS