NIRAS has provided the technical background material on three of the six designated Danish areas for nearshore wind farms, which are currently on public consultation.
The technical background material is provided though environmental impact assessments (EIAs). The EIAs ensure that all environmental aspects will be addressed later on, when the construction is planned. The three parallel environmental impact assessments have posed a major task for NIRAS. A total of 25 of the company’s employees have contributed plus a corresponding number of sub-consultants.
The EIAs of the nearshore wind farms were provided by NIRAS to Energinet.dk and then made available to all stakeholders.
The DEA opened the pre-qualification process before the EIAs were completed, in February 2015. Up to 350 MW of wind energy can be installed in six designated areas: Sæby, Sejerø Bugt, Smålandsfarvandet, North Sea South, North Sea North and Bornholm. Three bidders were pre-qualified: Wpd HOFOR Danish Offshore Consortium, European Energy Nearshore Consortium and Vattenfall Wind Power A/S.
NIRAS has prepared EIAs for North Sea South, North Sea North, and Bornholm sites.
Image: Energinet.dk