Questions and Answers
Environmental and politics
What are environmental benefits of Offshore Windpark Princess Amalia Wind Farm?
Princess Amalia Wind Farm will produce approximately 400 GWh on an annual basis, enough energy for 125,000 households. This energy is produced from an inexhaustible non-fossil source, namely wind. The production of this renewable energy prevents an annual emission of 225,000 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2, a greenhouse gas). Consequently, the Q7 offshore wind farm contributes towards more sustainable energy production. The experience obtained through this project will also be leveraged for further development of wind energy as a clean source of energy.
The development of sustainable energy plays a key role in the battle against global warming caused by the greenhouse effect. The use of renewable energy also helps to prevent the depletion of fossil fuels present in the earth’s soil.
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The production of the wind turbines and the construction of the wind farm required energy, and will consequently result in the emission of CO2. Will the wind farm generate sufficient energy to compensate for the CO2 emission and energy consumption?
Yes. The wind farm will need approximately 3 months to make up for the energy consumed during its construction. Princess Amalia Wind Farm will be operational for 20 years, which means that the wind farm will be producing at least 80 times the amount of energy than required for its construction.
Are any other environmental impacts of Offshore Windpark Princess Amalia Wind Farm being studied?
Yes. As part of the authorisation procedure, extensive research into the expected impact of the wind farm on its surrounding areas has been carried out. This research was based on relevant studies that were available at the time and, where possible, up-to-date information. Experts translated the study results to the wind farm’s environment with the utmost care.
Besides, a monitoring programme was drawn up during the construction of Princess Amalia Wind Farm. This programme will be continued during the operational phase of the wind farm up to 5 years after its construction. The programme consists of research into:
• living organisms on or in the seabed near the wind turbines
• the amount of fish life in the area
• the visibility of the wind farm from the shore
• the sound produced by the wind turbines and its impact on porpoises
• shipping activities in the area (the farm is a restricted zone in which shipping is prohibited)
The results of the monitoring programme will be available after they have been approved by the Directorate-General for Public Works and Water Management. See also Research.
What impact will the construction of the wind farm have on the sea and beaches? What measures will be taken to minimise the damaging effects, if any?
The construction and presence of Princess Amalia Wind Farm will have various consequences for the sea, beaches and fauna in its vicinity. Therefore measures were taken as early on as the design and planning phase. These measures include:
• The wind farm is located at a distance of 23 kilometres from the shore. Consequently, it is unlikely that the wind farm would be situated in the middle of a bird migratory route. The location also has a minimal impact on the landscape, in particular with regard to the view from the shore. On most days the wind farm will not be visible from the shore. On exceptionally clear days the wind farm may be discernable if binoculars are used. In other words, the impact on the landscape is very small.
• The wind turbines are hardly illuminated, or not at all. Princess Amalia Wind Farm is only equipped with navigation lighting for shipping and aviation. This minimises the possibility that birds are attracted to the lights.
• A ‘pinger’ was used to minimise the impact of the noise on marine animals during the pile-driving for the foundations. A ‘pinger’ is an acoustic deterrent device that produces underwater sounds, ‘pings’. These sounds cause nuisance to marine mammals, such as porpoises and seals, but are not harmful to them. It helps to keep the animals at a distance.
• On the shore, a cable is installed to connect Princess Amalia Wind Farm to the national grid. This required the digging of a trench, which may cause damage to the local flora and fauna. Because of the presence of a rare orchid (the pyramidal orchid), a section of the cable was installed underground using a steered boring procedure that does not damage the soil’s surface (with the exception of the entry and exit point).
What impact will the construction of Princess Amalia Wind Farm have on the fish and marine animals present in the area? What measures will be taken to minimise the harmful effects, if any?
The impact on fish and other marine animals also forms part of the monitoring programme mentioned earlier. Since the area is closed for fishery, the presence of the wind farm on fish and marine animals is likely to have a beneficial effect. A ‘pinger’ (see above) is used to minimise the negative impact of the construction work on marine life.
What impact will the construction of the wind farm have on birdlife? What measures will be taken to prevent any harmful effects, if any?
This consideration also forms part of the research questions on which the monitoring programme is based. According to a measuring programme for offshore wind farms in Denmark, the majority of migratory birds tend to fly around wind farms. Most birds start an outflanking movement at a distance of 3 kilometres (during the day) or 1 kilometre (at night) from the park. A small percentage (approximately 10%) of the birds will fly through the wind farm, but nevertheless stay out of the way of the wind turbines. The reaction of birdlife to wind farms also seems to be specific to each species. Some types of birds will keep a large distance between themselves and the wind farm, while other species seem not to take the slightest notice of it. To reduce the impact on bird life, Princess Amalia Wind Farm has been constructed at a distance of 23 kilometres off the coast. For the same reason, the wind turbines are hardly illuminated, minimising the possibility that birds will be attracted to the wind turbines at night.
Will the presence of Offshore Princess Amalia Wind Farm have an impact on the local weather conditions?
The presence of Princess Amalia Wind Farm is not likely to have any effects on the weather conditions in the surrounding area. However, the wind-force may be less strong directly behind the wind farm. This effect will only be noticeable within a few kilometres from the wind farm.