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Wind turbines in front of the East Frisian Islands
Photo: Sina Schuldt / dpa
In the North and Baltic Seas, the conflict between nature conservationists and climate protectors is likely to come to a head: In order to still achieve the climate goals, the federal government has now created a legal planning basis for the planned further expansion of wind energy at sea - which has been heavily criticized by nature conservationists will.
According to the Interior Ministry, the Federal Cabinet has now adopted a corresponding ordinance on spatial planning in the German exclusive economic zone in the North Sea and the Baltic Sea.
The ordinance states that the new regional planning plan supports a "nature-friendly sustainable development of the marine area" and is indispensable for climate protection by securing areas for the expansion of offshore wind energy.
The German exclusive economic zone (EEZ) lies in an area between twelve nautical miles (22 kilometers) to a maximum of 200 nautical miles (370 kilometers) beyond the coast.
It does not belong to the sovereign territory, but there are exclusive rights of use of the respective coastal state.
Offshore wind farm operators are optimistic
The federal government wants to significantly expand wind energy at sea and on land.
However, expansion on land is not enough to achieve the climate targets.
But things are now getting tight at sea too: The new spatial plan states that the usage requirements in the marine area have increased in recent years and have increasingly led to spatial conflicts.
Particular mention should be made of the large space requirements of shipping and offshore wind energy as well as the demands of marine nature conservation.
The plan coordinates the various uses and functions of the exclusive economic zone and reserves areas for the individual uses and functions.
This should reduce conflict.
Environmental associations had criticized, for example, that nature conservation was neglected in the planned expansion of the economic use of the North and Baltic Seas.
The associations, including BUND, Greenpeace, NABU and WWF, demanded that the expansion of offshore wind energy and marine conservation should go hand in hand.
In return, the pollution of the oceans from other uses must therefore be greatly reduced.
"Raw material extraction, pipeline construction, military exercises, unlimited shipping and fishing are already taking place in protected areas," the associations criticized.
"The expansion of offshore wind energy in protected areas is no longer excluded in the current plan."
The Federal Association of Wind Farm Operators Offshore, on the other hand, stated that the new maritime spatial planning plan was going in the right direction.
"Conflicts of goals between the different types of use were adequately taken into account without losing sight of the common climate protection goals."
From the expansion of wind energy on land and at sea, Siemens Energy's wind power subsidiary, Siemens Gamesa, is now benefiting less than expected.
In the past third quarter from April to June, the group made a loss of 307 million euros, as the company announced on Wednesday.
Incoming orders were also weak, with Gamesa receiving fewer large orders.
apr / dpa
