Environmental impact
“With our 325,2 MW offshore wind farm, we contribute to delivering a cleaner and safer environment to our children and grandchildren”, says CEO Jaak Rutten.
Global environmental impact
Compared to the environmental impact of traditional energy sources, the environmental impact of wind power is very positive. Wind power consumes no fuel, and emits no air pollution. Wind power does not generate any toxic waste nor does it constitute a major safety risk.
The energy consumed to manufacture and transport the materials used to build a wind power plant is equal to the new energy produced by the plant within a few months.
C-Power will, with its expected yearly production of 1 TWh, avoid every year 415.000 tonnes CO2, which represents:
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the annual CO2 absorption of a forested area of 65.000 ha
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1/3 of the forest area within the Flemish Region
Impact on the marine environment in the North Sea
As a clean tech company, C-Power aims at constructing and operating an offshore wind farm in the most environmentally friendly way.
As early as 2003, C-Power has performed a comprehensive Environmental Impact Report (EIR). In this report, independent marine scientists have studied the impact of C-Power’s offshore wind farm on sea birds, sea mammals, fish and benthic organisms and analysed possible safety risks and the visual impact from the seashore.
Based on this report, MUMM, the federal authority in charge of scientific research in the North Sea, has made a substantial Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of the project. The conclusion of both the EIR and EIA were that the impact of the project on the marine environment was minor and thus acceptable.
Monitoring marine environment
The monitoring is carried out by scientists of the MUMM or by third parties (university, specialised consultants,..). The results of the marine environment monitoring are published on a yearly basis and available on the website of the MUMM.
In 2013, a workshop presenting the results of the 5 year marine environment monitoring program was organised by C-Power, in collaboration with the MUMM. All stakeholders were invited to participate in this workshop.
