A study published today examines whether additional potential for offshore wind energy can be realized through the multiple use of planned areas at sea. The IKEM’s legal analysis contained in the study shows both hurdles and opportunities for combined maritime use. Legal adjustments could create the conditions for the expansion of hybrid energy generation at sea.
In a joint research project with Deutsche WindGuard GmbH, BioConsult, and the Helmut Schmidt University/University of the Federal Armed Forces Hamburg, IKEM has investigated the legal basis for the multiple use of maritime areas in the German Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
The analysis focused on the potential for offshore wind energy on areas for national and alliance defense as well as for fisheries research. The combination of offshore wind energy with other types of energy generation (hybrid generation) was also examined.
The results show: From a legal perspective, multiple use has not yet been explicitly anchored in spatial planning law. Nevertheless, existing planning instruments – in particular the spatial development plan for the EEZ and the land development plan – already permit such utilization concepts.
At the same time, however, the expansion potential for offshore wind energy on defense and research sites remains limited. In contrast, IKEM believes that hybrid energy generation offers significant potential for increasing energy yields at sea and utilizing electricity grids more efficiently:
“Hybrid energy generation can be a key to making better use of limited areas in the EEZ. However, the current approval regime under the WindSeeG is currently preventing comprehensive implementation. A targeted legal adjustment could open up new opportunities for the energy transition at sea,” says study author Franziska Stamme.
