Best available techniques avoiding emissions into the marine environment from the offshore wind industry : final report / Herausgeber: Umweltbundesamt ; im Auftrag des Umweltbundesamtes

Abstract

The report for industry and permitting authorities provides an overview of the hazardous substances that can be released into the marine environment during the installation, operation and decommissioning of offshore wind turbines, including transformer stations, converter platforms and cables. The substances relevant to operation were identified and listed. These substances were assessed for their potential risk to the aquatic environment based on the following criteria: ⁠PBT⁠ criteria, H-phrases for aquatic toxicity, listing on ⁠REACH⁠, ⁠OSPAR⁠, ChemSec and ECHA contaminant lists. Applications in open systems such as galvanic corrosion protection and fire extinguishing foams, but also accidents with fuels and hydraulic oils are possible sources of emissions of hazardous substances into the marine environment.

The report for industry and permitting authorities provides an overview of the best available techniques to prevent emissions of hazardous substances from the offshore wind industry into the marine environment during installation, operation and decommissioning. In addition to risk management through the use of proper procedures, timely inspection and knowledgeable personnel, the report identifies the technical measures and techniques that are currently available, tested and economically feasible, as well as the current legislative background. The areas covered are technical installation, storage, bunkering, fire protection, corrosion protection, discharges from open systems, antifouling, cleaning and substitution of hazardous substances.