Orsted may find it “impossible” to resolve a bird conservation issue that’s standing in the way of the 2.4GW Hornsea 3 offshore wind farm – the developer’s biggest planned in the world so far – claimed a UK wildlife charity which did not rule out legal action over giant projects off eastern England.

Plans to mitigate impacts on kittiwakes were central to a decision by UK energy secretary Alok Sharma to yet again delay consent for the North Sea project, dashing hopes for a 1 July green light for a development that was originally due a final OK in October 2019.

The UK’s Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy said Orsted needs to come up with another ‘Compensation Plan’ for populations in a Special Protected Area on the Flamborough and Filey Coast of Yorkshire, after finding the one put forward inadequate under habitats regulations as a counterweight to kittiwakes potentially killed by turbine collisions

Sharma said he was “minded” to approve the giant wind farm by the end of 2020 if a better plan is submitted than the one currently put forward, which centres on killing off the kittiwakes' predators, adding there was a “reasonable prospect” that Orsted will come up with a solution.

Proving they can deliver successful compensation that genuinely helps kittiwakes ... may be impossible.

But Martin Harper, director of conservation for UK bird charity RSPB, said: “Orsted will be under no illusion that proving they can deliver successful compensation that genuinely helps kittiwakes will be extremely difficult and we are concerned this may be impossible to achieve.

“However, we are looking forward to working with the company to explore different options as well as support the government in assessing the viability of any proposals.”

Orsted said after the latest postponement that “while disappointed at the further delay, [we] are confident of providing the evidence requested to ensure that consent will be granted later this year”.

But it declined to offer further details on how it might further raise its game on the kittiwake question, which has been an issue for Hornsea 3 since a decision was originally delayed in 2019.

The up-to 300 turbine project is the biggest offshore wind farm planned yet by Orsted, the global leader in the sector which expects to have 15GW turning at sea by 2025 – including Hornsea 3. Orsted in 2018 estimated the total Capex and Opex cost of Hornsea 3 at between £5bn and £8bn ($6.2-10bn).

It is also unclear what implications the Hornsea 3 impasse has for Hornsea 4, the next giant offshore wind farm Orsted is planning in the UK Round 3 zone after the already-operating 1.2GW Hornsea 1 – currently the world’s largest offshore wind farm – the under-construction 1.4GW Hornsea 2 and the still-unconsented Hornsea 3.

Orsted told Recharge earlier this year that it expected to make a consent application in the latter part of 2020 for Hornsea 4, which would deploy up to 180 turbines.

Wicked challenge

The RSPB claimed Sharma’s decision showed the UK – which has the world’s largest offshore wind fleet – is finally addressing “the wicked challenge of reconciling demand for offshore wind and conservation of seabirds”.

But Harper condemned the simultaneous approval of Vattenfall’s 1.8GW Norfolk Vanguard project, also off eastern England, despite an examining authority recommending its rejection.

The RSPB has previously shown itself ready to challenge offshore wind developments in court. An action in Scotland delayed 2.3GW of projects for two years after an ultimately unsuccessful challenge by the charity there.

A statement sent to Recharge by the RSPB did not rule out legal action in respect of the latest consenting situation in the North Sea. “We will now take the time to look at the detail before making any decisions,” it said.

Opposition based on potential bird life impacts have increasingly become an issue for offshore wind projects globally, with projects in Germany and the US also facing challenges.

Wind

Meet the little birds blocking Orsted's $10bn biggest-ever offshore wind farm