The nearshore Egmond aan Zee wind farm (OWEZ) - the first wind farm in the Dutch North Sea - was built in 2007. At this time, the wind farm was assigned its permit for an operating period of 20 years. However, the wind farm is in good technical condition and the lifespan of the 36 turbines turns out to be longer. To prevent early decommissioning and maintain the value of the existing infrastructure, owner NoordzeeWind (Shell) involved Pondera Consult to apply for the necessary permits for a five-year lifetime extension. Successfully, the necessary permits were obtained to remain operational through 2031. With our expertise in permit processes, the wind farm OWEZ can continue to contribute to the energy transition and a circular economy, in which longer use of materials is a key element.

What is needed for the lifetime extension of Egmond aan Zee wind farm?

Pondera guided the life extension process for Egmond aan Zee wind farm. But what is actually involved? Here is a brief overview of the main steps:

• Permit scan: What permits have been issued, what is the expiry date and what needs to be done for extension? This revealed, among other things, that regulations from the Wbr and Wm permits issued at the time now apply under the Omgevingswet and therefore needed to be revised. In addition, obtaining an environmental permit for a Flora and Fauna activity was required. This was not required during the construction in 2007.
• Construction and safety study: In the case of lifetime extension, it is important to ensure that the wind farm is demonstrated to be of sufficient safety and seaworthiness during the additional life span. This requires a technical investigation by an independent certifying organisation.
• Ecological study: There should be evidence that, in combination with other offshore wind farms that have already been realised or licensed, sufficient ecological space will remain. Waardenburg Ecology, in collaboration with Pondera, prepared the nature assessment to assess the effects on birds, bats and marine life. Furthermore, we carried out a nitrogen calculation.

Alongside these steps, additional aspects had to be arranged, such as stakeholder participation and the possible renewal of the ground lease. To summarise, there were many different elements involved. With effective coordination, strategy and planning, everything was successfully completed. The result is great: almost five years of additional renewable energy generation at sea!

Is the permit for your onshore or offshore wind farm expiring soon and curious about the possibilities for life extension or scale-up? Contact us and find out how we can successfully extend the permit together.