Blue mussels, seaweed and offshore wind energy

The FINO3 Platform is operated by the R&D Centre at Kiel University of Applied Sciences and is open to all institutions wishing to carry out research in offshore wind farms. Although stakeholder consultation was not legally required it was undertaken from the beginning of the project to get a wide overview of all aspects for an offshore MU pilot. The offshore MU idea was new to most stakeholder in Germany. There were no objections. The most important stakeholders were subcontractors as offshore service and installation companies, companies providing regular transfer to FINO3 via helicopter, the insurance company, diver companies, offshore shipping companies, NGOs, permitting authorities, offshore technical equipment supplier, offshore engineers were some of the many contacted stakeholders. External SH are not directly involved in the day-to-day business of the pre-operational, operational, or post-operational activities of the German Pilot. This category of SH is predominantly included in outreach activities such as interviews, workshops and webinars, where they are offered the opportunity to advice on, discuss, learn about and give feedback on particular topics, questions and conflicts. It is this community, the best practices, results, lessons learned and a generic roadmap of UNITED will be shared with, which makes them potential users of the project’s output. The German Pilot considers the following parties external SH: the offshore industry, such as wind farm operators and corresponding service providers, the licensing authorities ministries political parties, potential future investors (e.g. mussel fishermen, seaweed farm cultivators), development agencies and insurance companies, non-governmental (environmental) or-ganizations (NGO), local community, processing and pharmaceutical industry (restaurants, retailing, packaging sector), and the scientific community.

Overall the reactions were very interested, positive and would like to be informed about the development.

Wind power and aquaculture multi-use projects in Germany can take future advantage of existing political support at the national and European levels for aquaculture, renewable energy, the blue economy, and multi-use.

Located in the German EEZ and under the jurisdiction of the federal government, any installation in the pilot area must follow the planning, licensing and operating procedures regulated in the Marine Facilities Act (Seeanlagengesetz, SeeAnG) from 2017, including the latest relevant amendments of the Offshore Wind Energy Act (Windenergie-auf-See-Gesetz,WindSeeG 2017). In addition, the Decree on the Maritime Spatial Plan (MSP) for the German Exclusive Economic Zone in the North Sea and Baltic Sea (Verordnung über die Raumordnung in der deutschen ausschließlichen Wirtschaftszone in der Nordsee undin der Ostsee) needs to be considered. Offshore installations also need to comply with the Federal Nature Conservation Act (Bundesnaturschutzgesetz, BNatSchG).

However, there is currently a high degree of complexity associated with multi-use projects, which is linked to businesses’ demands for clear and comprehensive regulatory frameworks to facilitate quicker and more straightforward permitting and licensing procedures in Germany.