IOW Logo

FINO2 MT

Project manager:         Erik Stohr

Project staff: Erik Stohr, Jörn Kurth

The 25 member states of EU have agreed, among others on, the increase of the renewable energy percentage on the total energy consumption of 20 % till 2020. Germany is in a pioneer roll concerning climate protection and announces even more advanced targets. By 1990 the government released a program to reduce CO2 and defined first targets. Ever since the climate protection has been an essential part of German policy including the environmental economics, exploratory and structural framework. Due to the governmental program for the offshore wind energy production, wind parks with a total power of 20-25GW have to be installed till 2030. The aim is to reduce the green house gases about 40 % by 2020 and up to 80-95% till 2050.

The FINO platforms in the North and Baltic Sea were installed according to a strategy paper of the German government to the wind energy production in 2002 in potential areas. By the help of research platforms meteorological and oceanographical measurements should be done. They should detect and reflect the results of the ecological influences, ancillary research and environmental monitoring during the construction and the of the offshore wind parks.

As the second of three BMU research platforms was build up on the shallow „Kriegers Flak“ in 2007. This is in the south western Baltic, situated on a notably representable position on the north western board of the Arkona Basin which is important for the salt water balance. The windpark “Baltic II” is one out of three windparks (totally 320 windmills) which is under construction on this location. At the moment the FINO project is funded by the BMWi. The builder-owner was the SIW which was also operator of the platform until 2010 as well. In connection with transition into government property the operation was awarded to DNVGL in a bidding process.

The hydrographic measurement systems are coordinated by the BSH on all three platforms. IOW, partner of the BSH for more than 20 years, has been responsible for the installation and long term operation of the system on FINO2 since 2012. Due to this IOW designed a fitted equipment concept for Kriegers Flak, which meets the standards of strong layers, a high vertical and time variability. The realization consists of a continuous monitoring of the key data at the wind measurement platform including remote data transmission to the FINO-Database. The system was completly developed and transferred into a nonstop operation mode. So far received long term series fulfill the requirements of the construction and raiser consortium and commercial enterprises to full extent and support the offshore wind energy research.

As shown in many workshops the measured salinity and oxygen profiles, the chlorophyll and turbidity dispersion as well as the seastate and current data are essential for the wind energy industry. The accompanied research is fundamental for an environmental friendly construction and the conservation by the construction companies as well as for the environmental decisions done by the federal government.