Belgian researchers are conducting 25 nature studies to construct a large wind farm in the North Sea. These are necessary to understand the impact on plants and animals in the Princess Elisabeth Zone. The protected nature reserve can only be used for the energy production of more than 3 GW if the impact on fauna and flora is as limited as possible.
Federal Minister for the North Sea Vincent Van Quickenborne (Open Vld) is today visiting a UGent study that maps the effects of high-voltage cables on marine animals. Because the electromagnetic radiation can have effects on the development of species such as the dogfish, cuttlefish, European lobster or squid.
“It could be changes in behaviour,” explains maritime biologist Steven Degraer. “But also in development speed. Perhaps they develop more slowly or are more subject to stress and we see higher respiratory rates.”
It is one of the studies that have been conducted since 2019. The results are important as the federal government decided last week to accelerate the transition to renewable energy, including offshore wind. In the long run, Belgian wind production should be boosted from the current 2.2 to 5.4 to 5.8 gw by 2030.
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We want to focus on floating solar panels. That does not exist anywhere in the world and we want to be the first country to do so.
“We have to get rid of gas and oil,” says Van Quickenborne. “That is why we have decided to keep the two youngest nuclear power plants open, combined with much more renewable energy. That is the recipe for the future.”
The offshore wind farms can be supplemented with solar panel installations. “We want to focus on floating solar panels,” explains Van Quickenborne. “There is no such thing anywhere in the world and we want to be the first country to do so. The experiments are in full swing and certain calculations predict an extra Gigawatt thanks to those solar panels.”
Positive Effects
In addition, defining a zone for wind turbines also has positive effects, the researchers believe. The end of fishing or shipping could benefit the maritime biotope. The turbines and substructure also attract marine life. “You see that they are colonized very quickly by numerous organisms. These ensure that you get a local hotspot of species richness and secondary production. This in turn attracts fish and birds. So locally you get a change that is usually seen as positive.”
The federal government wants to be sure that nature areas are not hindered by the wind turbines and wants to strengthen the protection of nature areas in this way where possible.
This requires thorough study. But that must yield if Belgium is to achieve its ambition to set up three additional zones for renewable energy in the North Sea. This consists of 37 percent nature reserve, where energy producers not only need a classic environmental permit, but also an additional Natura 2000 permit.
The EDEN2000 project brings together 25 separate studies launched in 2019. They must be completed in 2023 and thus form a guideline for the tender that will be launched next year.
Also read:
Our nature is so beautiful: even the trailer of the first major Belgian nature documentary is already impressive †
It is too late for subsidies, but a new gas-fired power station in Vilvoorde is still possible. Or will there be a wind farm? †
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