The Dogger Bank is a large sandbank beneath the surface of the North Sea. It lies within the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) of Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Denmark. Parts of this area – including the German section – have been designated as nature conservation areas.
On behalf of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) and the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK), IBL Umweltplanung GmbH – in collaboration with BioConsult SH, Deutsche WindGuard, and Prof. Dr. Gerold Janssen – examined how the Dogger Bank could be used in an environmentally compatible way.
The study focused on the following key questions:
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What legal and policy frameworks apply in the German EEZ?
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How are technologies in offshore wind energy evolving?
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What are the ecological limits within the Dogger Bank nature conservation area?
(i.e. assessing the carrying capacity of the ecosystems)
Based on these investigations, several expansion scenarios for potential wind energy use were developed – along with assessments of their impacts on local flora and fauna.
However, a clear recommendation for one specific scenario could not be made. The main reason: a lack of sufficient data on technological options and ecological consequences. To address these knowledge gaps, the study outlines specific research and policy recommendations.
Study recommendation:
Before any decision is made regarding wind energy use within the Dogger Bank nature conservation area, the time should be used to close the identified knowledge gaps and pursue the recommended research efforts.
Click here to access the study (in German)
Click here to read the summary for decision-makers (in German)