Located about 77 to 102 kilometres north of Ameland, near the border with the German part of the North Sea, Doordewind is one of the areas designated for offshore wind energy development. The Dutch Ministry of Climate Policy and Green Growth has commissioned an environmental impact assessment (EIA) for this area. Pondera, as part of Haskoning, is carrying out this assessment in collaboration with partners Waardenburg Ecology, TNO, MARIN, NewGround Law and HWE. The EIA identifies the potential effects of the wind farm on the environment and the surrounding area and forms the basis for the site decision and the permitting process. 

Wind energy site Doordewind

Wind energy site Doordewind is part of the Dutch government's Additional Roadmap for Offshore Wind Energy 2032, which aims to achieve 21 gigawatts (GW) of installed capacity by 2032. With a planned total capacity of approximately 4 to 4.6 GW, the wind farm will make a substantial contribution to climate targets and strengthening energy independence. The Doordewind wind energy area will be divided into four wind farms. A site decision will be made for each wind farm. For these different sites, an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) will be conducted.

Environmental Impact Assessment

The Environmental Impact Assessment is intended to assess the potential effects of the project on the environment and therefore forms the basis for decisions on permitting and spatial planning. The EIA examines, among other things:

• Ecology: The impact on protected nature areas such as the Front in Friesland and the surrounding ecosystem is a key focus. The impact on the habitats of birds, bats, marine mammals, fish and benthic animals is being examined.
• Shipping and safety: The impact on existing shipping routes, navigation and maritime safety is analysed.
• Other functions: Among other things, consideration is given to the spatial integration of the wind farm in relation to other functions, such as mining, aviation and other offshore infrastructure.
• Active fishing: New compared to previous site decisions is that active fishing will be facilitated in the Doordewind wind energy area, if research shows that this is safe, feasible and practicable. The EIA will assess the environmental impact of a wind farm with and without active fishing.

For Doordewind, the ecological and spatial effects are complex, given the presence of Natura 2000 areas such as the Frisian Front and German nature reserves in the area. We also know that Doordewind's location in the German Bocht may have ecosystem effects due to impacts on stratification and primary production, which could affect the entire food chain. The EIA is expected to contain recommendations on, among other things, mitigating measures to limit effects on marine mammals, birds and bats.  

Once the EIA is final in 2026, consultation procedures, draft decisions, and permits will follow. The wind farm is expected to be in operation by 2032.