Kiri

December 2023

Ran wind farm

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Administrative tasks

Operator

Ran Vindpark AB

Box 2299

SE-103 17 STOCKHOLM

Corporate Registration Number: 559422-9105

Elina Cuéllar, Project manager

E-mail address: [email protected]

Phone: +46 702 24 34 67

Environmental consultant

Structor Miljöbyrån Stockholm AB

Petra Adrup, Project manager

E-mail address: [email protected]

Katarina Helmersson, acting project manager

E-mail address: [email protected]

Legal adviser

Mannheimer Swartling Advokatbyrå

Therese Strömshed, Attorney

E-mail address: [email protected]

Project information

Project name: Ran Wind Farm

Project website: https://www.ox2.com/projects/pleioneran/

Report: Ran Wind Farm – notification according to the Espoo Convention

Created by: OX2, Structor Miljöbyrån, Structor Miljöteknik and NIRAS

Reviewed by: Elina Cuéllar, OX2

Approved by: Emelie Zakrisson, OX2

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About the notification

The Espoo Convention on Environmental impact assessment in a transboundary context is an environmental protection convention for Europe, Canada and the United States concerning cooperation to prevent transboundary

environmental effects.

Under the Espoo Convention, the party of origin for an activity with a potential transboundary impact is required to inform and invite interested parties, that is to say other countries) likely to be affected by the activity to participate in

the environmental impact assessment procedure.

This notification is designed to provide an overall description of the project, the project area and a preliminary report

on the scope and content of the future Espoo environmental impact assessment, which specifically addresses expected transboundary impacts.

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Summary Ran Vindpark AB is owned by OX2 (publ) and Ingka Investments, a part of the Ingka Group.

OX2 AB (publ) is one of the leading players in large-scale wind power in Europe and the company is now planning to establish

a wind farm, Ran. The farm area for the Ran Wind Farm covers about 327 km2 and is located in Swedish territorial waters about

12 kilometres east of Gotland. The Ran project will consist of 90–121 wind turbines. The wind farm will include related

equipment such as transformer/inverter stations and submarine cables.

The number of wind turbines built at the wind farm is governed by the size of the wind turbines. Larger wind turbines take up

more space but offer higher output, while smaller turbines offer a lower output but occupy less space. The maximum overall

height of the wind turbines is expected to be up to 310 metres.

The Ran Wind Farm is expected to generate about 8 TWh of electricity per year, which corresponds to electricity consumption

for up to 1.7 million households. The farm is expected to be operational by 2030.

The distance from the planned Ran Wind Farm to the mainland of Latvia is about 126 km, the distance to Lithuania is about 200

km and the distance to the island of Saaremaa, which belongs to Estonia, is about 150 km. The distance to the Russian exclave

of Kaliningrad is about 285 km, to Finland about 304 km, to Poland about 300 km and to Bornholm, which belongs to Denmark,

is about 361 km. The distance to the mainland of Germany is about 473 km.

Under the Espoo Convention, the party of origin for an activity with a potential transboundary impact is required to inform and

invite interested parties, that is to say other countries likely to be affected by the activity to participate in the environmental

impact assessment (EIA) procedure. This notification is designed to provide an overall description of the project, the project

area and a preliminary report on the scope and content of the future Espoo EIA, which specifically addresses expected

transboundary impacts.

The preliminary conclusions are that the impact, within Swedish territorial waters, of the planned activities is expected to be

limited, which means that the potential transboundary impact can also be expected to be limited. A nautical risk analysis will be

developed because of the increased risk of collision for shipping, due to the obstruction factor created by the wind turbines.

Regarding possible effects on birds, further studies will be carried out during 2023 and the impact on birds will then be

described in the upcoming environmental impact assessment. The impact on commercial fishing will also be described in future

environmental impact assessments.

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Contents

1. Background .................................................................................................................... 9

1.1 About OX2.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................9

1.2 Ran .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................9

1.3 About the need for fossil-free energy .................................................................................................................................................................................... 10

2. Permit processes ..................................................................................................... 11

2.1 Permits for the construction and operation of the wind farm ........................................................................................................................... 11

2.2 Permits for laying the inter-array cable network......................................................................................................................................................... 11

2.3 Natura 2000 permit ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 11

2.4 Summary ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 11

3. Activity description ................................................................................................ 12

3.1 Location ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 12

3.2 The wind farm’s design and extent ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 13

3.3 Activities in the different phases of the project ............................................................................................................................................................. 19

3.4 Preliminary schedule ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 23

4. Area description ....................................................................................................... 23

4.1 Geology and depth conditions..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 23

4.2 Hydrography and meteorology.................................................................................................................................................................................................. 24

4.3 Natural environment ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 26

4.4 Landscape scenery ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 34

4.5 Natural resources ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 35

4.6 Climate .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 38

4.7 Infrastructure and planning conditions............................................................................................................................................................................... 38

5. Risk and safety .......................................................................................................... 43

6. Preliminary environmental impact ............................................................... 43

6.1 Geology and bottom conditions ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 44

6.2 Hydrography ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 44

6.3 Natural environment ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 44

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6.4 Landscape scenery ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 49

6.5 Commercial fishing .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 50

6.6 Climate .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 50

6.7 Infrastructure and planning conditions............................................................................................................................................................................... 51

6.8 Resource management ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 52

6.9 Cumulative effects ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 52

7. Potential transboundary impacts ................................................................... 52

7.1 Birds ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 53

7.2 Marine mammals .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 53

7.3 Landscape scenery ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 53

7.4 Fishing ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 53

7.5 Maritime activities ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 53

7.6 Cumulative effects ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 53

8. References ................................................................................................................... 54

8.1 Text references ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 54

8.2 References for databases for maps ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 58

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Concepts and definitions

To make it easier for the reader, specific concepts and definitions have been compiled, to be used when describing the planned

activities and for the project’s preconditions and expected environmental impacts.

Connection Corridor The area or areas within which the wind farm’s export cables to one or more onshore connection

points are located.

Export cables Electrical cables that transfer the electricity generated by the wind farms to one or more

connection points on land;

Output The speed of energy conversion. Production capacity is measured in kilowatts (kW) and their

multiple units; 1,000 kW = 1 megawatt (MW), 1,000 MW = 1 gigawatt (GW), 1,000 GW = 1

terawatt (TW).

Energy The product of output and time. Energy produced is measured in kilowatt hours (kWh) and its

multiple units; 1,000 kWh = 1 megawatt-hour (MWh), 1,000 MWh = 1 gigawatt-hour

(GWh),1,000 GWh = 1 terawatt-hour (TWh).

Halocline A boundary between water masses with two different levels of salinity. The difference in salinity

between surface water and bottom water creates a layering that makes it difficult to mix the

different layers.

Inter-array Internal electrical cable network within the wind farm.

Environmental impact

assessment (EIA)

A document attached to the application for a permit. It must describe the direct and indirect

environmental impact on human health and the environment and allow an overall assessment

of the consequences arising from the planned activities.

Farm area The area in which the wind farm is planned, bounded by the coordinates that are shown in

Figure1.

Mitigation measures Mitigation measures are measures taken to avoid and minimise adverse environmental impact.

Sweden’s economic zone The Swedish economic zone is located where the maritime territorial border in the sea does not

reach the boundary agreed with the neighbouring countries concerned.

Territorial waters Sweden’s territorial waters consist of the waters located outside the baseline to 12 nautical miles

from the baseline.

Overall height: The total height of the turbine up to the blade tip when it is at the highest position over the sea

surface.

Wind farm Wind turbines, inter-array cables, transformer and inverter stations, met masts, and related

parts within the farm area.

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1. Background

1.1 About OX2

OX2 AB (publ.) is one of Europe’s largest wind power companies and develops, builds and sells large-scale renewable energy

solutions. OX2 also offers wind and solar farm management after completion. OX2s development portfolio consists of both

proprietary and acquired projects in different phases in onshore and offshore wind, solar and energy storage. On 19 May 2023,

the Swedish government granted a permit for Galene, one of OX2’s offshore wind farms in the Kattegat, within the Swedish

economic zone. The company is also active in technology development linked to renewable energy sources, such as hydrogen.

OX2 has operations in eleven markets in Europe and has been operating in Australia since 2023. In 2022, OX2’s sales revenues

amounted to approximately SEK 7.6 billion. The company has approximately 500 employees and its head quarter in Stockholm.

OX2 has been listed on Nasdaq Stockholm since spring 2022.

Ingka Investments, the investments arm of Ingka Group, which operates 392 IKEA stores in 32 markets has a clear focus on

investments in renewable energy. In addition to covering its own consumption, Ingka Investments also wants to be able to

reduce its climate footprint in the entire value chain. Ingka Group has an installed capacity of renewable energy of more than

2.3 GW, which corresponds to the annual consumption of more than 1.25 million European households.

OX2’s business objective is to accelerate the transition toward a fossil-free energy system with a net positive impact on natural

capital by 2030. The aim is therefore that the wind, solar and energy farms OX2 develops, and builds should create as much

climate benefit as possible, while protecting or strengthening biodiversity through the projects. OX2’s goal, in line with its

business objective, is to establish nature-positive wind farms by 2030 that contribute positively to both climate change and

biodiversity.

1.2 Ran

Ran Vindpark AB, a subsidiary of OX2 (publ.), is now planning to establish the Ran wind farm. The farm is located in the Baltic

Proper, 12 kilometres east of Gotland, within Sweden’s territorial waters. This location is identified according to the

SWEREF99TM coordinate system shown in Figure 1.

The planned area is approximately 327 km2. When completed, the wind farm will include 90–121 wind turbines with an overall

height of a maximum of 310 metres and with rotor diameters of between 240 and 280 metres. The farm is expected to have an

installed capacity of approximately 1.8 GW and generate approximately 8 TWh renewable energy per year.

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Figure 1. Coordinates of the farm’s corner points. Base map: © [National Land Survey] 2023

1.3 About the need for fossil-free energy

The planned wind farm is part of the extensive energy transition in both Sweden and the rest of Europe from fossil-dependent

power sources to energy production entirely based on fossil-free, green and sustainable technologies. In addition to

environmental and climate goals driving technology development and investment in renewable energy sources, there is also a

great need for new and fossil-free electricity generation to be established quickly and at a cost that generates competitive

electricity. The demand for electricity is expected to be at least 300 TWh by 2045, which is twice the current electricity

consumption.

1.3.1 Offshore wind power

Offshore wind power off the coast of southern and central Sweden has a great potential to contribute renewable electricity

while at the same time making efficient use of existing electricity grids. This location also strengthens the area’s ability to supply

itself and create energy stability as the area currently has Sweden’s lowest level of local production of electricity (Lara, et al.,

2021).

Compared to onshore wind farms, offshore wind farms can be built using larger turbines with higher power output. The

conditions are also more beneficial for offshore wind power because wind speeds are higher and the winds blow more evenly,

which contributes to more stable and efficient energy production.

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2. Permit processes

The Ran Wind Farm requires several permits that are described in more detail in the sections below.

2.1 Permits for the construction and operation of the wind farm

The construction and operation of the Ran Wind Farm and associated facilities, including inter-array cable networks located

within the territorial waters, require a permit for environmentally hazardous activities and marine activities in accordance with

Chapters 9 and 11 of the Environmental Code. Permits are issued by the Land and Environment Court. For a permit to be

granted, a decision from the municipality, in this case Region Gotland, is also required.

2.2 Permits for laying the inter-array cable network

A permit is required to lay an inter-array cable network within the Ran Wind Farm, pursuant to Section 3 of the Swedish

Continental Shelf Act (1966:314) (KSL) and a permit for water operations in accordance with Chapter 11 of the Environmental

Code.

2.3 Natura 2000 permit

The Ran wind farm is located near the coast of Gotland and is provisionally considered to have some impact on some bird

species specified under the Birds Directive for nearby Natura 2000 areas that forage pelagically within and near the farm area.

A Natura 2000 permit will therefore be applied for. The application for a Natura 2000 permit will be reviewed in connection

with the permit for environmentally hazardous activities and marine activities.

In addition to the existing Natura 2000 areas, twelve county administrative boards have been commissioned by the government

to propose new SPA areas for the Natura 2000 network. In Gotland County, the sea areas around the Karlsö islands and the east

coast of Gotland are proposed as new bird protection areas, including the sea area from the shoreline to a depth of 25 metres

east of Gotland. If the new Natura 2000 area along the east coast of Gotland is adopted, existing designated Natura 2000 areas

will be discontinued and included in the new Natura 2000 area. If this should be the case, Ran Vindpark AB intends to apply for

a Natura 2000 permit for the new area.

2.4 Summary

I Figure 2 below shows the permits required for the Ran Wind Farm.

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Figure 2. Illustration of the permit required for the Ran Wind Farm. Illustrator: Nina Fylkegård

3. Activity description

3.1 Location

The Ran Wind Farm is located in the Eastern Gotland Basin in the Baltic Proper, see Figure 3. The area consists of open sea and

has no islands. Ran is located about 12 kilometres to the east of Gotland, within Sweden's territorial waters and is about 327

km2 in area. The water depth in the farm area varies between about 40-85 metres.

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Figure 3. The wind farm’s location in relation to surrounding countries. Base map: © [Natural Earth] 2023

The distance from the planned Ran Wind Farm to the mainland of Latvia is about 126 km, the distance to Lithuania is about 200

km and the distance to the island of Saaremaa, which belongs to Estonia, is about 150 km. The distance to the Russian exclave

of Kaliningrad is about 285 km, to Finland about 304 km, to Poland about 300 km and to Bornholm, which belongs to Denmark,

is about 361 km. The distance to Germany is about 473 km.

The Ran Wind Farm is expected to have favourable conditions for the establishment of wind power with an average wind speed

of about 8.86 m/s (at an altitude of 150 m above sea level) (New European Wind Atlas, 2023).

3.2 The wind farm’s design and extent

Table 1 Below is a summary of Ran’s design and extent.

Table 1. A summary of Ran’s design and extent.

Name Ran

Size <327 km2

Number of turbines 90–121

Base types Fixed to the seabed

The planned Ran Wind Farm will have an installed capacity of about 1800 MW and will include approximately 90–121 wind

turbines, depending on the size of the turbines.

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The wind turbines are anchored to bases and connected to an inter-array cable network. The inter-array connects the wind

turbines to transformer or inverter stations, which are used to export the electricity to land, either as alternating current

(substations) or as direct current (substations and inverters).

Figure 4 presents possible farm layouts in the farm area, using 15 MW and 20 MW wind turbines respectively. The layouts show

the potential designs of the farm. It should be pointed out that these are only examples of layouts and that the final design may

look different.

Figure 4. An example of possible farm layouts for the Ran farm area, with 15 MW wind turbines on the left and 20 MW wind turbines on the right. Base map: © Sjöfartsverket

In addition, one or more masts may be installed in the wind farm for meteorological measurements or LiDAR, i.e. Light Detection

and Ranging, as well as buoys for wave and current measurements.

3.2.1 Wind turbines

A wind turbine consists of a tower, nacelle and rotor blades and is installed on a foundation anchored to the seabed. The tower

also contains electrical components. The main components of the nacelle are the gearbox, generator and yaw motors. A

transformer will either be fitted in the nacelle or in the tower. The electricity produced by each wind turbine is transferred via

an inter-array cable network to a transformer/inverter station. The wind farm may consist of several transformer/converter

stations depending on their design and capacity.

The wind turbines in the wind farm will most likely be a traditional model with three rotor blades on a horizontal shaft, see

Figure 5. The rotor diameter is expected to be between 240 and 280 metres and the maximum overall height of the wind turbine

is expected to be 310 metres above sea level. The distance between the tip of the blade and the surface of the water will be about

30 metres.

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Figure 5. Examples of wind turbines. D = rotor diameter, H = overall height, G = clearance, d = water depth. Illustration: Fredrik Folkesson

The turbine is expected to produce electricity at wind speeds from about 3 m/s and achieve maximum production at wind

speeds between 10 and 14 m/s. When the wind speed exceeds about 30 m/s, the turbine is automatically switched off to restart

automatically when the wind speed is lower.

The wind turbines, including met masts, will have warning marking for air and shipping in accordance with current regulations,

including the Swedish Transport Agency’s regulations and general advice on marking objects that may pose a danger to aviation

and on the notification of flight obstacles (TSFS 2020:88).

Additional maritime safety markings may be required, depending on the location of the wind farm in relation to shipping routes

and lanes, e.g. pursuant to the Swedish Transport Agency’s regulations and general advice on the marking at sea with maritime

safety devices (TSFS 2017:66). The wind turbines may also be equipped with radar, mist and fog horns and an automatic

identification system. In addition, a dialogue will be held with the relevant authorities on the necessary safety-enhancing

measures.

3.2.2 Foundation

Foundations will be needed at the Ran wind farm to attach platforms and wind turbines to the seabed. The choice of foundations

depends on several factors: Primary water depth, geology, wind and wave conditions, and environmental considerations and

costs. As both water depth and geological conditions vary within the wind farm, different types of fixed foundations may be

considered in different combinations. The following is a brief account of the different types of fixed foundations that are deemed

to be relevant.

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Based on the geological conditions at the site and the technology available today, fixed seabed foundations are relevant at Ran.

The rapid developments in technology mean that other types of foundations may also be used.

Fixed foundations consist of three main parts; A part that secures the foundation in or on the seabed, a part to elevate above the

surface of the water and a so-called transition piece that forms the transition between the foundation and the tower to ensure

that the tower stands vertically. In connection with the foundations, erosion protection is provided on the seabed to protect the

foundation from the formation of erosion holes around the foundation. The need for erosion protection varies depending on

waves, currents and the type of bottom sediment. The most common type of erosion protection is layers of rock, gravel and

sand of varying sizes that are laid around the base of the foundation and this can create reef structures that increase biodiversity,

also known as nature-included design. In addition to erosion protection, foundations that are fixed on the seabed also provide

a reef effect. In collaboration with Blått Centrum Gotland, OX2 plans conducting pilot tests at Ran, in which artificial reefs made

of concrete will be laid out in the farm area. This is to see whether they attract cod and other types of fish. In addition, OX2 and

Ecopelag have also collaborated in the development of a concept for large-scale blue mussel farming in offshore wind farms.

Of the seabed foundations, monopiles and jacket foundations with piles are mainly relevant for the farm, see illustrations of

these in Figure 6. The foundations will be anchored to the seabed, usually by piling. Foundations that are fixed to the seabed

may also use so-called suction buckets.

Figure 6. Foundations from left to right: Monopile, monopile with suction buckets, gravity foundation, jacket foundation with suction buckets, jacket foundation with pin piles and tripod foundation with pin piles. Illustrations: Fredrik Folkesson.

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3.2.3 Inter-array

The inter-array connects the wind turbines to the transformer/inverter stations, (offshore substations, “OSS”) by connecting

individual wind turbines in groups (radials), which in their turn are then connected to the respective transformer/inverter

station.

For example, based on the cabling technology available today, the inter-array can consist of 66 kV cables, which can transmit a

combined power of around 80-90 MW per cable. This means that up to six 15 MW turbines can be connected along the same

radial. The voltage level of the mains supply cables is expected to rise to approximately 170 kV in the next five to ten years. This

would increase the total transmission capacity of each cable, thus reducing the number of radials and thereby the total length

of cables. In addition to the cables connecting the wind turbines, additional cables may be established within the wind farm to

provide redundancy in the system and power supply to any platforms.

3.2.4 Platforms

Within the farm area, one or more transformer/inverter stations are installed to which the electricity generated by the wind

turbines is led via the internal cable array. Connection cables that export the electricity are run to shore connection points from

the transformer/inverter station. The transformer/inverter station contains electrical equipment, including transformers that

transform the voltage from the internal cable array to higher voltages. If the shore connection is made with direct current,

inverters are also included as part of the electrical equipment. These stations are usually referred to as inverter stations.

The transformer/inverter station is a platform with one or more decks, sometimes with a landing pad for helicopters. The

platforms are prefabricated and installed in modules on one or more foundations. Self-floating and self-installing platforms may

also be relevant for the farm area. See Figure 7 for some examples of how the platform and foundations can be designed.

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Figure 7. Examples of offshore transformer/inverter stations and their foundations. From the left: jacket foundation, gravity foundation, support

leg foundation, jacket foundation (with float-over installation), self-installing gravity foundation. Illustrations: Fredrik Folkesson.

The exact number, design and location of the platforms will be determined during the wind farm’s detailed engineering process,

based on the size and number of turbines, seabed conditions and optimal cable routing. There will be a maximum number of

four platforms for the Ran Wind Farm. The platforms will be marked in accordance with the applicable regulations for marine

and air traffic.

3.2.5 Measurement of meteorological parameters

One or more met masts may be installed to supplement available wind data from the area and form the basis for detailed design

and choice of turbines and their layout. A met mast usually has a height roughly corresponding to the hub height of the wind

turbine and is installed in the same way as a wind turbine with a foundation anchored to the seabed. The foundation for a met

mast is considerably smaller than for a wind turbine.

Data from the met masts can also be used to monitor the conditions for different lifts during installation, where there may be

requirements for maximum wind speeds. The data can be used later in the process to monitor the wind farm’s production. In

addition, data from met masts concerning wind speed, turbulence and gusts, etc., can also be used as a basis for load calculations.

Load calculations are performed when dimensioning the turbine, turbine tower, foundation and anchoring.

A technology that is rapidly developing and has the potential to replace met masts is called LiDAR. LiDAR technology uses lasers

to measure wind speeds above sea level and thus does not require a mast. At present, this measurement technique has not been

certified to provide a basis for load calculations, but this is expected to be possible in the future.

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3.2.6 Export cables

After electricity from the wind farm has been produced offshore, it will be transported to land via one or more connection

corridors consisting of export cables. Figure 8 shows possible onshore connection points for the export cables.

Figure 8. Connection points that may be relevant for connection to the Ran Wind Farm. Base map: © [National Land Survey] 2021

3.3 Activities in the different phases of the project

This section summarises the activities planned during the construction, operation and decommissioning phases of the wind

farm. Environmental impact assessments will be carried out for all three phases.

3.3.1 Construction phase:

The wind farm will be built over a period of several years The construction phase includes steps relating to prior preparation

and installation of the wind farm.

Construction surveys

Prior to the construction of the farm and the inter-array, seabed conditions surveys will be carried out to investigate the geology

and sediment of the seabed. The purpose of these surveys is to obtain detailed information for final design of foundations and

the detailed design of the farm and cabling, including the exact location of wind turbines. Geophysical studies such as sidescan

sonar (SSS) and multibeam echo soundings (MBES) well as various forms of seismic surveys, both 2D and 3D, provide high-

resolution bathymetric information about the seabed sediment and its geological composition down to about 80 metres below

the seabed. The investigations also provide information about the presence of natural and artificial objects on the seabed and

any gas pockets.

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Geotechnical surveys include geotechnical drilling, cone penetration testing (CPT) and vibrocores. Based on the results of these

studies, the company can come to conclusions about, among other things, load-bearing capacity and thus design of foundations

and choice of installation methods. Magnetometry is needed to ensure that construction work can be carried out without risk

of, for example, finding mines or other unexploded ammunitions.

Installation

The following is a brief description of how to install a wind farm. In general, attempts are made to conduct installation works

continuously during a single season and without interruption for winter.

The planned process for the installation of the wind farm is to first install the foundations and transformer/inverter stations.

Then the export connection to land and the inter-array will be installed. Finally, the wind turbines with towers, nacelle and rotor

blades are installed. Once the turbines have been fully installed, commissioning and operational trials take place before the

facility is handed over to the operating organisation after approved tests.

Vessel traffic

During installation, the main components of the wind farm (wind turbines, transformer/inverter stations, platforms, measuring

masts) will be transported to the area, positioned and installed. The main components are shipped out of their respective

manufacturing ports and transported either to a final assembly port, a pre-assembly harbour, or directly to the farm area.

Daily transportation of personnel and small components takes place from a nearby installation port. In addition to surface

vessels, helicopters can also be used for transport.

During the installation of the wind farm, several installation vessels and working platforms of various kinds will operate in the

area. Several support vessels may also be required for equipment and personnel, as well as tugs. All vessel traffic will be

monitored by a so-called marine coordinator. A safety zone can be established around installation work in progress to minimise

risks for marine traffic.

For some work, a jack-up vessel or a jack-up platform, may be used, see Figure 9. These vessels lower their legs to rest on the

seabed. The vessel’s hull or platform itself is raised so that it is well above the highest wave height and therefore no longer

affected by wave movements. As an alternative, semi-jack-up vessels can also be used. On semi-jack-up vessels, the hull remains

afloat while the legs are lowered onto the seabed to ensure stability.

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Figure 9. Installation of wind turbines by a jack-up vessel. Source: COWI

In addition to the above-mentioned vessels, additional special vessels may operate in the area, for example for various surveys

or emergency operations. During construction there may also be one or more smaller boats that protect the installation area

from other traffic.

Installation of foundations

Monopile foundations are floated out to the area or transported on board an installation vessel or a barge. Monopile foundations

are placed on the seabed, either from a jack-up platform or from a floating crane vessel. The foundation is then driven down

into the seabed by pile-driving, vibration-driving or drilling. Depending on the nature of the seabed, installation can take place

using a combination of these methods.

Jacket foundations require the seabed to be relatively flat, which means that levelling may be required prior to installation. The

foundation is transported to the area by a barge or installation vessel and placed on the seabed by a jack-up platform or a crane

vessel. If pin piles are used the steel pipes are driven, vibrated or drilled into the seabed at the respective corners of the

foundation. Pin piles are then attached to the foundation by concreting them together or by mechanical tethering. If geology and

other conditions make it possible, jacket foundations can be anchored to the seabed using a suction caisson, a steel or concrete

cylinder that is sucked into the seabed by means of a vacuum.

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Inter-array

Before the installation of internal electrical cables begins, preparatory work is carried out to ensure a safe and unobstructed

laying process. The preparatory work includes clearing rocks and boulders on the seabed and removing foreign objects on the

seabed such as fishing nets, lines, etc. Clearing involves a certain penetration of the seabed. It may also be necessary to level the

seabed if there are sand dunes or other unavoidable, easily moved seabed features, or in places where the bed is steep.

The cables, rolled up on large coils, are transported to the farm area by special installation vessels. The cables are laid on the

seabed and then usually buried to a depth of between one to three metres below the seabed to protect them from damage from

fishing gear, anchors, etc. When cables are laid under the surface of the seabed, they can be protected by covering them with,

for example, stone or concrete structures or by laying them in pipes.

If a cable needs to cross an existing cable, pipeline or other existing infrastructure, both the existing and the new cable network

must be protected. The protection can consist of concrete mattresses, steel or concrete bridges, for example. The details of this

type of intersection are set out in a cable crossing agreement developed by the cable and/or pipeline owners.

Wind turbines

The main components of the wind turbines may be transported to the farm area by the installation vessel or by a separate

transport vessel. The components can be transported directly from a port near the wind turbine manufacturer or from an

installation port. The various components are then installed using a crane, normally in a single working day if weather

conditions permit.

Installation of wind turbines with fixed foundations will take place in turns out at sea. Installation of wind turbines requires

high precision and is therefore restricted by wave and wind conditions. With the turbines installed, the components can be

connected to the inter-array cable network, after which the turbines are tested.

Transformer/inverter stations

A transformer/inverter station is normally installed on its base using a crane vessel. Depending on how the

transformer/inverter stations and their foundations are designed, they can also be towed out or installed using other lifting

methods, for example with their own legs. Alternatively, the foundation may be built first, after which the superstructure is lifted

into place. When the transformer/inverter station has been installed, the inter-array electrical cables are connected to the

station.

3.3.2 Operational phase

Wind turbines and transformer/inverter stations are remotely monitored and unmanned during normal operation. However,

continual maintenance takes place at the wind farm, which requires personnel and materials to be transported there by supply

vessel, ship or helicopter. Cables are inspected as necessary to ensure, for example, that their protection at the base of the wind

turbine is unchanged. If a cable is damaged it can be repaired by the damaged cable section being lifted by a cable-vessel to carry

out the repair work, and then replaced onto the seabed using the same method as during the construction phase.

The final operating and maintenance strategy will be determined at a later stage. An onshore operation and service base is likely

to be established. It is likely that maintenance work will be primarily carried out by Crew Transfer Vessels (CTVs) or by a larger

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Service Operation Vessel (SOV). Jack-up vessels may be used for more extensive maintenance operations, for example where

large components need to be replaced.

3.3.3 Decommissioning phase

The wind farm is expected to have reached the end of its service life after 45 years’ service, after which it will be

decommissioned. Decommissioning will be carried out in accordance with the practice and legislation in force at the time of

decommissioning. Wind turbines, foundations and transformer/inverter stations will be dismantled and the areas on which the

foundations were built are reprocessed to the required extent.

The farm components will be dismantled unless the removal of these individual structures has a greater environmental impact

than that of leaving them in place. As the technology and knowledge situation is changing rapidly, the detailed wind farm

decommissioning will be suitably planned in consultation with the supervisory authority.

It is likely that the structures above the seabed surface will be decommissioned. For example, monopile or jacket foundations

can be cut a few metres below the sea floor and the upper part lifted off. Some farm parts may be left behind after

decommissioning, such as inter-array cabling.

One reason for leaving some structures behind is that these may have become a part of valuable artificial reefs. If it is necessary

to remove cables, they will be released from the seabed and lifted to the surface. Rock that has been used to cover cables is likely

to be left on the seabed, as well as the protection used at intersections. During decommissioning, a temporary safety zone will

be established around the location of activities to protect personnel, equipment and safety for third parties.

3.4 Preliminary schedule

The schedule for the Ran Wind Farm is shown in Figure 10 below. Several factors may affect the schedule, which may require

adjustment during the work. The schedule should therefore be general and preliminary. The complete development of the wind

farm is expected to take up to six years.

Figure 10. Preliminary schedule for the wind farm.

4. Area description

4.1 Geology and depth conditions

The Ran Wind Farm is located about 12 kilometres east of Gotland, within the border for territorial waters. The water depth

within the area varies between approximately 40 and 85 metres, with an average depth of approximately 54 metres, see Figure

11. The farm area contains no islands and only consists only of open sea.

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The bottom substrate of the farm area is dominated by mixed sediment, with elements of clay to muddy sand (Figure 12).

Figure 11. Depth conditions in the farm area. Base map: © [National Land Survey] 2022 [Document EMODnet]

Figure 12. Bottom substrate in the farm area. Base map: © [National Land Survey] 2022 [Document EMODnet]

4.2 Hydrography and meteorology

The Ran Wind Farm is planned for the Eastern Gotland Sea, where the salinity of the surface water is about 6–7 PSU (Practical

Salinity Unit). The water temperature varies with the seasons, with higher temperatures during the summer and lower during

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the winter. The average surface temperature in summer is about 18–19 ˚C and in winter about 1–3 ˚C (Snoeijs-Leijonmalm &

Andrén 2017).

The Baltic Sea is a brackish water inland sea that is largely characterised by a north-south salinity gradient. This is controlled

by a supply of salt water through the Danish Straits and Öresund in the south-west and a supply of fresh water from

watercourses in the extensive catchment area of the Baltic Sea. The gradient in salinity, with fresher waters in the north

becoming more salty to the south, is reflected in the species distribution with more typical freshwater species in the north and

more salt-water species in the south (Snoeijs-Leijonmalm & Andrén 2017).

Because salt water has a higher density than fresh water, the water is also saltier closer to the bottom than at the surface. There

is a clear stratification in the Baltic Sea between fresh water at the surface and salt water at the bottom. At the bottom, oxygen

is consumed in the water when organic matter breaks down. The salt layer makes it difficult for oxygen-rich surface water to

sink to the bottom and oxygenate the water there, and because Öresund is so narrow and shallow, large inflows of oxygen-rich

salt water from there are rare. Because of this, large areas are formed in the deeper areas of the Baltic Sea where the water is

oxygen-poor or completely anaerobic – for example in the Eastern Gotland Basin where wind the farm is planned.

According to the New European Wind Atlas (New European Wind Atlas, 2023), the annual average wind speed at 100 metres

altitude in the farm area is about 9 m/s with a maximum wind speed of about 28 m/s. The wind direction is mainly south/south-

west (SMHI, 2022a).

The wind farm is located in a part of the Baltic Sea that only becomes partially ice covered during the winters that SMHI classifies

as severe ice winters, other years the area is ice-free. Ice formation is rare in the farm area, and according to SMHI's ice maps of

maximum extent, no ice has occurred in the farm area for the past 10 years (SMHI, 2022b).

The water level in the Baltic Sea is mainly affected by air pressure and strong winds (Snoeijs-Leijonmalm & Andrén 2017). Due

to weather dependence, the water level in special conditions can vary rapidly, with over one metre difference during the same

day in some places (Snoeijs-Leijonmalm & Andrén 2017). The nearest sea level measuring station is in Visby harbour. The

average water level at the station in 2012–2021 was +12.2 centimetres. The maximum value during the same time period was

+84.30cm and the minimum value was -44.52cm (SMHI, 2022c).

The surface water currents in the Baltic Sea are the result of complex interactions between, among other things, the Coriolis

effect, wind and the topography of the bottom. The Coriolis effect means that the speed at which the Earth rotates is greatest at

the equator and decreases towards the poles because the circumference of the Earth is greater at the equator than at the poles.

This has an effect on how the wind moves over the Earth's surface and therefore also on surface water currents. The currents

are therefore irregular, but generally move in a counter-clockwise direction within the various major sub-areas of the Baltic Sea

(Snoeijs-Leijonmalm & Andrén 2017). The surface water currents are generally weak, at around 5 m/s, but can reach between

50 and 100 m/s.

Deep water currents lead from the strait in the south-west to the north-east into the Baltic Sea. Deep water currents move more

slowly than surface water currents and it takes about six months for salt water to travel from the strait to the Gotland deep

(SYKE, 2020).

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NIRAS investigated the oxygen conditions in the Ran Wind Farm in June 2023. The surface water showed good oxygen

conditions with an oxygen content of 7.1–7.8 ml/l down to a depth of about 70 metres. After that, the oxygen content drops

significantly and about 80 metres deep oxygen deficiency (hypoxia) was found.

4.3 Natural environment

4.3.1 The Natura 2000 area

The area surrounding the wind farm has designated Natura 2000 areas both on land and at sea, see Figure 13. The sections below

describe these in more detail.

Figure 13. View of the location of the farm area in the Baltic Proper and adjacent Natura 2000 areas. Base map: © [National Land Survey] 2021, [Document: Swedish Environmental Protection Agency]

On land

There are several small Natura 2000 areas both along the coast of Gotland and on nearby islands. Figure 14 lists the Natura

2000 areas identified under the EU Birds Directive, so-called Special Protection Area (SPA) areas. The Natura 2000 areas that

are located closest to the Ran farm area and may be affected are Ryssnäs (SE0340155), Skenholmen (SE0340127) and Asunden

(SE0340154) (Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, 2023). The nearest onshore Natura 2000 area is located about 10-

17 kilometres to the west of Ran.

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Figure 14. Overview of the location of the farm area in the Baltic Proper and Natura 2000 areas according to the Birds Directive (SPA) on the Gotland mainland and nearby islands. Base map: © [National Land Survey] 2021, [Document: Swedish Environmental Protection Agency]

The identified species in each Natura 2000 area are presented in Table 2.

Table 2. Designated species according to the Birds Directive for close Natura 2000 areas on land (Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, 2023).

Ryssnäs Skenholmen Asunden

Cranes

Common terns

Arctic term

Little tern

Black woodpecker

Woodlark

Red-backed shrike

Barnacle goose

Pied avocet

Eurasian golden plover

Ruff

Caspian tern

Sandwich tern

Common terns

Arctic tern

Little tern

Dunlin

Barnacle goose

Pied avocet

Ruff

Caspian tern

Sandwich tern

Common terns

Arctic tern

Little tern

Dunlin

Conservation plans for all of these areas have been developed (Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, 2023). Birds are

further described in section 6.3.1. The Uppstaig Natura 2000 area and its designated species are not considered to be affected

by the planned wind farm. Designated species according to the Birds Directive are pearly owl and black woodpecker, which are

resident bird species that live and breed in forests. There is no risk that these species will be significantly affected by the Ran

wind farm.

At sea

The Natura 2000 areas of the Hoburgs bank and Midsjöbankarna (SE0330308) and Gotska Sandön-Salvorev (SE0340097) are

close to Gotland, see Figure 13. The Natura 2000 area of the Hoburgs bank and Midsjöbankarna is located about 80 kilometres

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south-west of Ran and has been designated as a protected area under both the EU species and Habitats Directive (a so-called

SCI area) and the Birds Directive while Gotska Sandön-Salvorev is located about 22 kilometres north of the Ran Wind Farm and

has only been designated as an SCI area (Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, 2023).

The priority conservation values in the Natura 2000 area Hoburgs bank and Midsjöbankarna are the species of porpoises of the

Baltic population, long-tailed duck and black guillemot, as well as the reef and sandbank nature types and the species and

biological diversity that are typical of these habitats (Table 3). There is no conservation plan for the Hoburgs bank and

Midsjöbankarna but one s been developed by the County Administrative Board of Kalmar County and the County Administrative

Board of Gotland County. Porpoises are further described in section 4.3.6, and birds in section 7.10.

The priority conservation values in the Natura 2000 area of Gotska Sandön-Salvorev are the species grey seal and Boros

schneideri and the nature types of sandbanks, reefs, sandy Baltic beaches, dunes, white dunes, grey dunes, tree-lined dunes,

dune wetlands, low-lying meadows and leafy meadows. Seals are further described in section 4.3.6.

Table 3. Nature types and species identified in accordance with the Species and Habitats Directive and the Birds Directive for the Hoburgs bank and the Midsjöbankarna and Gotska Sandön-Salvorev (County Administrative Board of Gotland County and County Administrative Board of Kalmar, 2021).

Nature types Species

The Hoburgs bank and Midsjöbankarna

1170 – Reefs

1110 – Sandbanks

1351 - Porpoises

A202 – Black guillemot

A604 – Long-tailed duck

Gotska Sandön-Salvorev

1110 – Sandbanks

1170 – Reefs

1640 – Sandy beaches at the Baltic Sea 2110 –

Dunes

2120 – White dunes

2130 – Grey dunes

2180 – Tree-lined dunes

2190 – Dune wetlands

6510 – Low-lying meadows

6530 – Leafy meadows

1364 – Grey seal

1920 – Boros schneideri

4.3.2 Natura 2000 areas belonging to other countries

Natura 2000 areas belonging to the countries around the Baltic Sea (with the exception of the Russian Kaliningrad Oblast, in

which there are no Natura 2000 areas) are located both offshore and along the coasts of the various countries, see Figure 15.

The Natura 2000 areas of the Baltic Sea countries closest to the planned wind farm are Irbes saurums (Latvia), about 106

kilometres to the east, and Akmensrags (Lithuania), about 127 kilometres to the south-west. Irbes saurums is designated as a

protected area under the EU Birds Directive, while Akmensrags is designated as a protected area under both the EU Species and

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Habitats Directive and the Birds Directive. Other Natura 2000 areas belonging to the Baltic Sea countries are located at a greater

distance from the wind farm.

Figure 15. Map of all Natura 2000 areas in the central and southern Baltic Sea. Base map: © [Natural Earth] 2021, [documentation: European Environment Agency].

4.3.3 Bottom flora and bottom fauna

The composition of animal and plant communities living on and in the seabed depends on several factors such as water depth,

salinity, oxygen content and bottom substrates (soft bottoms, mixed bottoms, hard bottoms, etc.). Hard and soft bottoms and

seabed vegetation are all habitats that provide protection for numerous aquatic organisms. In the part of the Baltic Sea where

Ran is located, the species composition is mainly represented by a few bristle worms and polychaetes together with several

mussels and crustaceans living above and in the sediments. Demersal animals and plants are directly or indirectly an important

food source for fish, mammals and birds higher up the food chain.

The bottom flora and fauna in the farm area were investigated by NIRAS in June 2023. The most common benthic species found

in the surveys were cumacea, Baltic macoma, and monoporeia affinis crayfish. Small quantities of blue mussels were also

observed.

4.3.4 Fish

The Baltic Sea is home to a mix of salt and freshwater species, as it is a shallow sea with brackish water. Due to this, the fish

fauna in the south-west of the Baltic Sea is dominated mainly by saltwater species, while the north-east consists of a combination

of both salt and freshwater species.

The farm area has varying bottom types with oxygen-poor/anaerobic areas from about 70 metres depth. It is, therefore,

probably that few or no benthic fish species are found at the deeper parts (>70 metres) of the farm. In those parts of the farm

area where oxygen conditions are good, some species of flatfish commonly found in such habitats may occur. These species are

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scrub flounder and Baltic flounder (Jokinen et al. 2019), and turbot and plaice. Due to the low salinity of the eastern Baltic Sea,

about 5–10 ‰, the individual density of these species is generally lower there than in, for example, the waters off Sweden’s

west coast. Pelagic species of fish such as sprat and herring are also common in the area (Swedish Agency for Marine and Water

Management 2022c, HELCOM 2020).

The farm area mainly overlaps with potential spawning grounds and to a lesser extent with highly probable spawning grounds

for sprat (Figure 16) (HELCOM 2020). The Gotland Deep, to the east of Ran has historically been an important spawning area

for cod. In 2018, the spawning area was inactive as oxygen and salt conditions were too bad for the spawning to be successful

(Viklund 2018). The species is expected to occur sporadically in the farm area, as is the case with European eel and salmon

(Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management 2022c).

In trawl surveys reported by ICES between 2010 and 2020, herring and sprat were by far the most common species in the

project area, followed by long spined oxhead, flounder and viviparous blenny.

Figure 16. Map of the probability of sprat spawning grounds within Ran. Base map: © [National Land Survey] 2021, [Document: HELCOM]

The sea areas in the central Baltic Sea are home to several species of seabirds as both overwintering, breeding and food search

areas. A large number of seabirds pass through the central Baltic Sea in the spring and autumn migration periods. Birds can

pass adjacent to the planned wind farm area in connection with these movements.

During spring migration, most species move in a north-eastern direction to the east of Gotland. During the autumn migration,

most bird species move in a mainly south to south-west direction east and south-east of Gotland. Gotland forms a barrier for

several species, which means that the birds either pass north of or south of the island. For other species, Gotland does not

constitute a barrier and they can therefore pass directly over the island. Gotland is also an important resting place for many

species. The movement patterns of birds during both spring and autumn migration east of Gotland differ between different

species. A description of a general pattern is therefore a general description that cannot be applied to all species. The studies

that have been carried out and will be carried out in 2023 are expected to provide more detailed information on migratory

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birds' movements during both spring and autumn migrations regarding the direction of flight, altitude and number of all species

in or near the farm area. This applies to both day and night migratory species.

During winter, some species, such as a small proportion of the overwintering auks, move between different areas of the Baltic

Sea and can therefore move through the Ran area when they, for example, fly to the Baltic coast from Gotland or vice versa.

During the summer, large numbers of birds nest along the Gotland coast. Nesting seagulls and terns, including lesser black-

backed gulls, Arctic terns and common terns, forage in the free water mass (they are so-called pelagic, which means that they

do not depend on a specific depth) far out at sea. Nesting birds instead forage by diving for mussels and other bottom fauna in

shallower waters. Many divers often dive down to seabeds at depths of 10–25 metres. Only less often do they dive down to

depths of 25–35 metres because it is not profitable with regards to energy expenditure (Larsson, 2018). Further investigation

will be carried out as to whether the Ran farm area is used as a foraging area during the breeding period, and by which species

and if so, to what extent it is used.

Several of the bird species that use the waters around Gotland have declining population trends and are listed on the Swedish

Red List, Helcom's Red List and IUCN's Red List for species in Europe. This concerns, for example, eider, long-tailed ducks, black

guillemots, red-throated loons, velvet scoters, and lesser black-backed gulls. Several species are also included in Annex 1 of the

Birds Directive, such as smew, red-throated loons and black-throated loons.

The farm area is located near the east coast of Gotland, which means that the area can be used by foraging birds during breeding,

migration and the wintering period. Sprat are present within Ran and form the main food for several bird species, including

common murre and razorbill. Lesser black-backed gulls can be expected to forage within the project area during their nesting

period, this also applies to Arctic terns, Sandwich tern and common terns. Birds that dive for mussels and other bottom fauna

feed in shallower waters than the species that fish pelagically and rarely fly out to the depths found in the Ran area.

The farm area is close to one of the Baltic Sea’s most important wintering areas for birds, the Slite Archipelago (Durinck 1994,

Larsson 2018). The Slite archipelago is an important area for, for example, wintering tufted duck and greater scaup.

During the spring, migration routes for migrating black-throated and red-throated divers, for example, pass through the farm

area (Hjernquist 2022).

4.3.5 Bats

Bats have been observed foraging at sea up to 20 kilometres from land (Ahlén et al. 2009) but can also be found out at sea in

connection with seasonal migration (Hatch et al., 2013). Knowledge of the paths of bats’ migration routes is limited. However,

there is a known migration route for the species of Nathusius’ pipistrelle that passes through Ran. It has a wide migration path,

where the bats fly scattered. It is not possible to rule out that there are more migration routes that pass through or near the

farm area. Foraging and migration of bats over the sea takes place in relatively warm and windy conditions.

Of the 19 species that occur in Sweden, a total of 17 species have been reported to the Species Portal on eastern Gotland between

2000 and 2022. The observations have been made from land. The two species that are not reported, Bechstein's bat (Myotis

bechstenii) and Alcathoe bat (Myotis alcathoe), are both rare species.

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Ran is close enough to the coast of Gotland for bats to potentially use the farm area for foraging. Bats also may pass through the

farm area during spring or autumn migration.

4.3.6 Marine mammals

Porpoises

There are two genetically distinct populations of porpoises in the Baltic Sea: The Danish Straits population and the Baltic Sea

population. Porpoises from the Baltic Sea population can occur in low densities in and near the farm area. The Baltic Sea

population has been estimated to consist of about 500 individuals (SAMBAH 2016) and is listed as being critically endangered

(CR) according to the Swedish Red List (ArtDatabanken 2020). By-catches and environmental toxins in 20th century are

believed to be the cause of the strong reduction in the population. Today, by-catches are still a threat to the population, along

with underwater noise and reduced access to prey. Porpoise is a designated species for the Natura 2000 area of the Hoburgs

bank and Midsjöbankarna (County Administrative Board of Gotland & County Administrative Board of Kalmar 2021), which is

located about 80 kilometres south-west of the farm area.

In a European collaborative project (SAMBAH 2016)), sound detectors (C-PODS), that recorded porpoises’ high-frequency click

sounds, were used to model the species’ spread in the Baltic Sea during the years 2011–2013. The study identified key areas

with higher densities of porpoises during different seasons, see Figure 17. The results show that porpoises gather around the

offshore banks Hoburgs bank and Midsjöbankarna in the Baltic Proper during May-October, while they are more scattered

during November-April (Carlén et al. 2018). The closest area identified as a protected area in the SAMBAH project includes the

Hoburgs bank and Midsjöbankarna.

The south-west corner of the farm area overlaps with an area that in the SAMBAH project was identified as important for

porpoises during the spring.

Figure 17. Important areas for porpoises in the immediate vicinity of the wind farm, per season. Base map: © [National Land Survey] 2021, [Document: Carlström & Carlén, 2016].

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Seals

There are three species of seal in the Baltic Sea: Grey seal, common seal and ringed seal. Of the three species, it is mainly grey

seals that can occur in the farm area, but occasionally solitary individuals of the other two species can also occur in the area. All

three species are protected under Annexes 2 and 5 of the Habitats Directive. The grey seal is the most common seal species in

the Baltic Sea. The population is assessed as viable (LC) according to the Swedish Red List (ArtDatabanken, 2020)) and has

reached a good status according to HELCOM, (HELCOM, 2018b). Documented basking areas where grey seals change fur (so-

called “haul-out sites”), are located both on Öland and Gotland. The closest areas to Ran are located along the east coast of

Gotland (HELCOM, 2018a). The grey seal is a designated species in the conservation plan for the Natura 2000 area of Gotska

Sandön-Salvorev (see section 6.3.1). Common seals are divided into two sub-populations in the Baltic Sea, South Western Baltic

and Southern Kalmarsund. Individuals from the Kalmarsund population are those that can possibly be present in the farm area.

This subpopulation is listed as vulnerable (VU) according to the Swedish Red List (ArtDatabanken, 2020). The nearest known

haul-out sites for common seals are located along the Öland coast (HELCOM, 2018a). The ringed seal Baltic Sea population

consists of three subpopulations: The Gulf of Bothnia, the Gulf of Finland, the Gulf of Riga and the Estonian coastal waters. Single

individuals from the latter subpopulation may potentially occur in and around the farm area during the ice-free period

(HELCOM 2018a). The number of individuals in the subpopulation decreased between the years 1996 and 2003 and nothing is

known about subsequent trends. A reduction in the ice-cover period due to climate change poses a major threat to the

population of ringed seals. Ringed seals are classified as viable (LC) on the Swedish Red List but as vulnerable (VU) on HELCOM's

Red List.

Ran is located about 12 kilometres from the nearest grey seal location and about 22 kilometres from the Natura 2000 area of

Gotska Sandön-Salvorev, where grey seal is a designated species, see Figure 18.

Figure 18 Map of grey seal haul-out sites. Base map: © [National Land Survey] 2021, [Document: HELCOM].

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4.3.7 Green infrastructure for biodiversity and ecosystem services

The general biodiversity in the Baltic Sea has deteriorated in recent decades, along with some species of fish, birds and marine

mammals, as well as habitats that are in an unsatisfactory state of health. Contributing factors to the current poor status of the

Baltic Sea are poor oxygenation of bottom water because of, among other things, irregular supply of salt and oxygen-rich water

from the North Sea, climate change and eutrophication. See the development over time for bottoms with oxygen-stressed and

anaerobic in the Baltic Proper in Figure 19.

Figure 19Development over time 1960–2020 regarding the area distribution of bottoms with oxygen-stressed (red, < 2 ml/l) and anaerobic (black, < 0 ml/l) conditions in the Baltic Proper (Hansson & Viktorsson, 2021).

A functioning green infrastructure is needed for the preservation of biodiversity and to benefit ecosystem services and their

resilience to climate change. Green infrastructure is defined as ecologically functional networks of habitats, structures and

natural areas, as well as the factors contributing to protecting biodiversity and the provision of important ecosystem services.

Ecosystem services are products or services that nature provides to man and that contribute to our well-being and quality of

life. Examples of this include natural water regulation, climate regulation and natural resources. They can also be aesthetic

values, resources for research and recreation.

4.4 Landscape scenery

Landscape scenery can be defined as a person’s visual impression of the landscape. The visual impression is also affected by

emotional aspects and past associations, which means that assessment can be highly subjective. Seascapes are characterised by

flat horizontal surfaces with few colours and little variety, where the small structure that exists is usually only made up of small

forested islands, islets and waves. The area in which the wind farm is planned is dominated by the free views of open sea. The

extent to which the visual change in the seascape will be made depends on the nature, scale and use of the seascape. The extent

of the impact depends on, for example, the size of the wind turbines, the distance to the wind turbines, the sensitivity of the

seascape to a new element, lighting and even weather conditions.

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4.5 Natural resources

4.5.1 Commercial fishing

Commercial fishing in the Baltic Sea is mainly focused on a few species. Cod, herring and sprat account for up to 95 % of total

catches (ICES, 2023). Pelagic fishing (especially pelagic trawling), which is spread throughout the Baltic Sea, is mainly focused

on herring and sprat (the Swedish Board of Agriculture and the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management, 2016). It

is this fishery that contributes the largest catches in terms of tonnage in the region (Swedish Agency for Marine and Water

Management, 2022b). The most important demersal trawling is bottom trawling aimed at cod and flatfish, especially by

flounder and plaice, which is concentrated in the southern and western Baltic. Other species of local and seasonal economic

importance are salmon, dab, brill, turbot, pike-perch, pike, perch, whitefish, eels and sea trout. Coastal fishing (fixed gill nets/set

gill nets, fyke nets and other types of stationary fishing gear) is sporadically spread across the area depending on the target

species.

Ran is located within ICES sea area 27.3.d.28.2. This is an international area in which landings from commercial fishing are

recorded. In the maritime area, Sweden and Latvia accounted for most of the catch between 2006 and 2019, 41 and 33 %

respectively. The catches consisted of 99 % sprat and herring. Danish and German vessels also fish in the area, see Figure 2020.

Data from the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management on trawl catches from Swedish boats 2013–2022 show that

intensive trawl fishing has been conducted in large parts of the Ran Wind Farm area during the period, see Figures 21 and Figure

22.

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Figure 20 Recorded catch locations between years 2018-2021). Base map: © [National Land Survey] 2022 [documents the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management, and the respective authorities in Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Denmark]

37

Figure 21 Diagram of landed catches from within the Ran wind farm. [Source: documentation from the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management, and the respective authorities in Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Denmark]

Figure 22 Density of fishing vessels (hours per 1 x 1 km square per month). Base map: © [National Land Survey] 2022 [Document EMODnet]

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4.5.2 Mineral extraction

Mineral extraction from the seabed means that materials such as sand and gravel are removed from the seabed for primary use

in the production of building materials. There is no designated area of interest for sand extraction in the area in maritime spatial

plans (Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management, 2022a).

4.6 Climate

The Baltic Sea environment is currently exposed to several stress factors, including eutrophication, environmental toxins and

overfishing. Climate change has the potential to worsen the existing problems. Based on modelling, the sea temperature is

expected to rise during this century (HELCOM, 2021), which would cause annual algal blooms to begin earlier in the spring. This

leads to an increased load of organic material to the bottoms, which risks expanding oxygen-poor and anaerobic bottoms

(Hjerne et al., 2019). This can lead to less successful recruitment of benthic fish and if the seabed becomes completely anaerobic

only certain types of bacteria will be able to survive (Tallqvist et al., 2019; Hermans et al., 2019). The living conditions can

change for several species in the Baltic Sea as light penetration, nutrient exchange in the water column and oxygen content may

decrease and therefore very likely have an effect on biogeochemical processes that in turn affect the entire ecosystem

(Andersson et al., 2015).

Wind power is a central part of national measures to limit future climate change and to implement Sweden’s climate target if

the country is not to have any net greenhouse gas emissions by 2045. The wind farm thus makes a contribution to limiting the

impact of climate change, both globally and locally.

4.7 Infrastructure and planning conditions

4.7.1 Maritime activities

One major shipping lane is adjacent to Ran's eastern borders. The movements of a large number of vessels (cargo, container,

fishing, passenger, service and tanker vessels, etc.) can be tracked using Automatic Identification System (AIS) and AIS data

from 2022 show that these types of vessel pass along the wind farm on their way in and out of the Baltic Sea (Figure 23). A

significant proportion of the ship traffic outside the wind farm consists of large-scale sea transport.

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Figure 23 Map of all shipping in 2022 in hours per 1 x 1 kilometre square per month, as well as shipping routes in the immediate vicinity of the wind farm. Base map: © [National Land Survey] 2021 [Document EMODnet]

4.7.2 Aviation

The nearest airport to the wind farm is Visby Airport, located about 50 kilometres to the west of the Ran farm area. The airport

is used both by the military and as a civil aviation airport. A Minimum Sector Altitude (MSA) for an airport is a circle with a 55

km radius from the airport’s landing aid devices. The area is divided into four sectors where the minimum permitted flight

height is 300 metres above each sector’s highest physical obstacle, which means that aircraft have a safety margin of 300 metres

to the highest object in each sector (Swedish Transport Administration, 2014). The south-west corner of the Ran farm area

overlaps with the MSA area.

4.7.3 Military areas

Ran is adjacent to the Swedish Armed Forces’ naval exercise area of national interest, which is located directly north of the wind

farm area. On Gotland, near Hemse, there is the ASE (TM0091) weather radar which is an area of national interest for the

military part of the Swedish national defence capability. The ASE weather radar is surrounded by a wind power prohibition

area with a radius of 5 kilometres and by an impact area for weather radar with a radius of 50 kilometres, which borders on the

Ran wind farm area. Visby Airport is also an area of national interest for the Swedish Armed Forces, i.e. a military airport that

can be used in the event of heightened state of alert or war. Otherwise, the wind farm is not adjacent to any additional marine

exercise areas (Figure 24).

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Figure 24 International military exercise areas. Base map: © [Natural Earth] 2021, [documentation: EMODnet]

4.7.4 Environmentally hazardous objects and dumping areas (mine risk areas)

After World War II, large quantities of chemical and conventional weapons were dumped into the Baltic Sea, to such an extent

that the Baltic Sea today is probably the sea in the world that contains the highest concentration of mines, munitions and

chemical weapons (Havet.nu, 2023). Many of these objects are still dangerous to come into contact with and a number of high-

risk areas with a particularly high density of dumped munitions have been established (Swedish Armed Forces, undated).

Dumped hazardous objects may also be present outside marked areas because they may have been dumped incorrectly or

moved, for example having been towed by trawling vessels (Havet.nu, 2023). Within Ran there is a known area with an

increased risk of the occurrence of sunken mines (Swedish Maritime Administration, 2023) (Figure 25).

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Figure 25 Mine risk areas. Base map: © [National Land Survey] 2021, [Document: Swedish Maritime Administration, Swedish Marine and Water Management Agency]

4.7.5 Other activities

No existing offshore wind farms are located near the wind farm, but the nearest existing wind farms are onshore, on Gotland’s

north-east coast. These are Smöjen vindpark 1 and Rute Furillen Slitevind XI & XII. The Smöjen wind farm 1 consists of 11 wind

turbines with a total output of 11.6 MW (Slitevind, 2022). The farm has been in operation since 1995. Rute Furillen Slitevind XI

& XII consists of two wind turbines (Vindbrukollen, 2022). The nearest offshore wind farm is Bockstigen 1, Sweden’s first

offshore wind farm, located west of Gotland.

OX2 is planning a wind farm about 20 km to the east of Ran, called Pleione. The project is currently in the consultation phase.

The company Deep Wind Offshore is planning a wind farm 32 kilometres north of Gotska Sandön, i.e. north-west of Ran’s

northern border. The proposed area of the wind farm is 1098 km2. The consultation phase within the project has been

completed and an EIA has been prepared for the permit application (Deep Wind Offshore, 2022). The company Njordr Offshore

Wind is also planning a wind farm about 31 kilometres north-east of Gotska Sandön. The farm area is 678 km) in size and the

project is in the preparation phase for the permit application, with the aim of submitting the application in 2024 (Njordr

Offshore Wind, 2022). The Irish company Simply Blue Group is planning two wind farms near the farm area: Herkules, located

south-east of Ran, and Skidbladner, located to the north of Ran. Both projects are in an early planning stage (Simply Blue Group,

2023). OX2 is planning a wind farm, called Aurora just over 110 kilometres south-west of Ran. A Natura 2000 application was

submitted in March 2022 and the SEZ authorisation application was submitted in June 2022. At least two wind farms are

planned in Latvian waters and the distance to the closest farm is about 100 kilometres from Ran. The status and timetable of

the projects are unclear (The Windpower, 2023).

Figure 26 below shows the nearest planned farm areas.

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Figure 26 The Ran farm area and close planned activities. Base map: © [Natural Earth] 2021, [documentation: EMODnet].

The Nord Stream 1 and 2 natural gas pipelines are close to the Ran farm area, see Figure 27. The Nord Stream pipelines run

from Vyborg in Russia to Lubmin in Germany. The pipeline system construction work was completed in 2012 (Nord Stream,

undated).

Figure 27 The areas for wind farms and the Nord Stream 1 and 2 natural gas pipelines. Base map: © [National Land Survey] 2021

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5. Risk and safety

Construction of an offshore wind farm places high demands on safety, which means that this will be a priority issue during all

phases of the project. The risks from a large-scale wind farm can be clearly divided into risks to human health, risks to the

environment and risks to individual or public property.

Risks to human health must be considered in relation to, for example, work carried out at height, work involving heavy lifting

or work involving the handling of electrical equipment. Risks to the environment may consist of discharges of oil or other

chemical products, the spread of bottom sediments stirred up during construction work, the occurrence of disturbing noises,

for example in connection with construction and the establishment of foundations. Risks of damage to public or private property

may arise, for example, during vessel movements at the farm area or when handling heavy components. Dumped ammunition

or other weapons pose a particular risk, which means that the possible presence of these objects at the farm area must first be

identified by geophysical surveys.

The general management of risks can be described in the form of a so-called action hierarchy. In the first instance, the risk must

be eliminated by completely avoiding the hazardous work moment or by replacing it with a less risky one. The next step is to

use technical or administrative measures to reduce the likelihood and impact of a hazardous event and to be prepared for action

if the hazard occurs.

Risk analyses will be carried out continuously throughout all phases of the project. An identified risk must always be assessed

and evaluated and, where appropriate, managed through risk mitigation measures. Procurement processes must ensure that

suppliers comply with the project’s high requirements for safety and risk minimisation. Risks will be described in more detail

in the future environmental impact assessment and Espoo Report.

6. Preliminary environmental impact

The impact of an offshore wind farm can occur during three different phases: the construction phase, the operational phase and

the decommissioning phase.

This section deals with the various potential environmental effects of the Ran wind farm that must therefore be taken into

account in the forthcoming process. The preliminary transboundary impacts caused by Ran are presented in section 7. Only the

phases that are deemed to have an impact are highlighted in the description for each environmental aspect below. The

forthcoming environmental impact assessment will describe the environmental impacts and their consequences and assessed

them in more detail. The assessments of the environmental impacts and its consequences will be based on a worst case- scenario

for each recipient group. For example, the effects on marine mammals in terms of underwater noise will be assessed on the

basis of the foundation type that generates the highest sound levels in connection with its construction. Similarly, the

environmental impact on bottom flora and fauna with regard to sediment spreading will be estimated on the basis of the use of

the foundation type causing the highest concentrations of suspended material.

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6.1 Geology and bottom conditions

The main environmental impact on geology and seabed conditions that arise from the establishment of a wind farm is the loss

of existing substrates and the replacement with hard substrates and hard structures for the construction of foundations, cables

and pipelines, in addition to erosion protection. The extent of this impact depends mainly on the choice of foundation. Monopile

and jacket foundations occupy different sizes of the seabed area and require anchoring between 50–95 metres down in the

seabed. This, therefore, also requires erosion protection, which leads to an impact on the geology in the vertical direction. The

duration of the change in the seabed surface depends partly on the useful life of the farm and partly on whether the foundations

are removed or left in place in connection with decommissioning.

All in all, the total impact on geology and seabed conditions during the construction, operational and decommissioning phases

is expected to be negligible, as the size of the total seabed surface area by the foundations is very small.

6.2 Hydrography

Changes in the hydrography can be divided into currents, waves and vertical mixing of surface and bottom water. Hydrological

changes due to vertical mixing are mainly due to current speed, the strength of the pycnocline and whether the foundation of

the wind turbine is deeper than the pycnocline (Hammar et al., 2008a).

Several hydrographical studies have been carried out in connection with the construction of marine structures in Sweden, for

example for the Lillgrund wind farm and for the Öresund Bridge (Øresundskonsortiet, 2000; Møller and Edelvang, 2001;

Karlsson et al. 2006). In these studies (and/or modelling), only marginal changes can be measured in comparison with previous

background values. Simulation of the impact of the Lillgrund wind farm showed that wave energy and current speed decreased

by about 5% within the farm, which is not considered to affect the conditions outside the farm area (Edelvang et al., 2001). Wind

turbines are not expected to impact on hydrographic changes except in smaller waters such as narrow water passages. The

changes in wave and current patterns observed around wind turbines have been marginal (Hammar et al., 2008a) As platform

foundations are of the same nature as those for the wind turbines, the impact is assessed to be the same as for the turbine

foundations. Potential impacts will be investigated and described in more detail in the environmental impact assessment.

As the Ran Wind Farm is not located in a narrow water passage but in the open sea far from the coast and with a significant

bottom depth, the impact on hydrography during the construction, operation and decommissioning phases is expected to be

limited.

6.3 Natural environment

6.3.1 The Natura 2000 area

The expected impact of the activities on the nearby Natura 2000 areas (Ryssnäs, Skenholmen and Asunden on the Gotland

mainland, and Hoburgs bank and Midsjöbankarna, Gotska Sandön-Salvorev at sea) will be investigated in more detail for future

environmental impact assessments.

The Natura 2000 areas contain a number of designated species and habitats. The preliminary assessment is that the

construction, operation and decommissioning of Ran may present a risk of impact on foraging birds that are present in nearby

Natura 2000 areas. Provisionally, no impact on marine mammals, including the designated species and habitats belonging to

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Natura 2000 areasat sea is, however, expected to occur as a result of the planned wind farm. The main reasons for this are

explained below in brief.

Marine mammals

The greatest impact on marine mammals is expected during the construction phase. Porpoises are a species of note for the

Natura 2000 area Hoburgs bank and Midsjöbankarna. The farm area is so far away from the Natura 2000 area that noise from

the activities is not expected to have any impact in the area. Although occasional porpoises may be in or near the farm area

sporadically, the temporary displacement of porpoises from these areas is not considered to have a significant impact on

porpoises or the conservation values of the Natura 2000 area. The grey seal is a designated species in Gotska Sandön-Salvorev.

This Natura 2000 area is also so far away from the farm area that noise from the activities is not expected to have any impact

on the grey seals at the area. The farm area is also not considered to be of particular importance as a foraging area for grey seals

and a temporary displacement effect from the farm area is not expected to have a significant impact on grey seals or the

conservation values of the Natura 2000 area.

Birds

During the construction and decommissioning phase, birds will be mainly affected by increased boat traffic, which can lead to

some barrier or displacement effects. The greatest impact from a wind farm normally occurs during the farm’s operational

phase, see more in section 6.3.4.

Ran is close enough to land to serve pelagic foraging nesting birds. Sandwich terns, Arctic terns and common terns could forage

within Ran’s farm area as there are probably large volumes of fish in the area at times. The three above-mentioned tern species

are identified in the Natura 2000 areas of Asunden (common, sandwich, Arctic terns), Skenholmen (Sandwich, common, Arctic

terns) and Rysisnäs (common, Arctic terns) which are between 10 and 17 kilometres away from Ran. The species are also

identified in Natura 2000 areas further south along the eastern coast, where the distances to Ran are too large to have any

impact on the species. The establishment of wind power at Ran and its impact on the species in the nearby Natura 2000 areas

therefore needs to be studied and further investigated.

Nature types

Areas designated under the Species and Habitats Directive (SCI areas) aim to ensure biodiversity through the conservation of

naturally occurring habitats and species occurring there. All designated nature types within Natura 2000 areas on the Gotland

mainland occur at too great a distance from Ran to risk any impact from the operations.

The current marine nature types identified for Gotland Sandön-Salvorev and Hoburgs bank and Midsjöbankarna are sandbanks

and reefs. In addition to these, a few nature types on land have been singled out for Gotska Sandön-Salvorev. All these habitats

are expected to be too far away from Ran for any impact to occur.

6.3.2 Bottom flora and bottom fauna

The effects on the farm’s bottom flora and fauna are mainly due to the physical disturbances to the seabed caused by the

installation of foundations, erosion control and inter-array. On the one hand, animals that live on a surface can be directly

damaged during the work, but the construction of wind turbine foundations also gives rise to temporary spread of harmful

suspended particles. Some organisms may be covered by sediments, which may be distressing for some species. Installation of

the inter-array may also result in local distribution of sediment, depending on the choice of installation method.

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In those parts of the farm area where the bottom substrate is made up of clay, mud and sand seabed, the bottom fauna is

dominated by animals that live buried in the sediment, so-called infauna. Usually, such species are not adversely affected by an

increased amount of suspended sediment and increased sedimentation, as they are adapted to living in such environments. The

organisms also have the ability to repopulate a disturbed area quickly after a disturbance has stopped. Parts of the deep bottoms

in the farm area also consist of completely anaerobic seabed, which means that there will be a more or less non-existent

presence of demersal organisms in these parts. However, the areas where the seabed is home to blue mussel banks may be

affected by increased amount of sedimentation. The impact on bottom flora and fauna is therefore considered to be greatest in

those parts of the farm area that have shallower depths and coarser bottom substrates, where most marine nature values in the

form of bottom flora and fauna occur.

Sediment spread models will be developed to estimate the distribution pattern in connection with the construction of Ran.

Sediment spread models will serve as a basis for deeper analysis of the effects of sedimentation on bottom flora and fauna in

future environmental impact assessments.

During the operational phase, the primary impact on bottom living organisms will be disturbance and loss of habitats where

excavation of the seabed has taken place, foundations and erosion protection have been installed and have replaced existing

habitats. The amount of habitat loss depends on the design of the farm, i.e. the size and number of wind turbines and

foundations. The loss of soft-seabed habitat is expected to be very small in relation to the remaining amount of soft-seabed

habitat. Blue mussel banks may be affected if turbine foundations are built in areas where such banks are located. However,

new hard structures are added during establishment of the foundations that can constitute new potential habitats for

establishment of the blue mussels. The activity can therefore have both an intrusive and beneficial effect on blue mussels.

Installation of the foundations in the farm area will lead to the introduction of new substrate in parts of the area in which species

that thrive on hard bottoms can establish themselves. These hard bottom surfaces will be unique in the deep soft-bottom areas

and contribute to a so-called reef effect, as hard-bottom species can establish themselves locally in connection with the wind

turbines and can contribute to increasing biodiversity (Wilhelmsson & Langhamer, 2014; Lu et al., 2020).

During the decommissioning of foundations and cables, some sediment spreading may occur, but not to the same extent as

during installation. Any positive effects from oxygenation and reef effect will disappear if the operation is dismantled.

6.3.3 Fish

Demersal fish species, species that live at the bottom of the sea, are not expected to be present to any great extent in the deeper

parts of the farm area, due to poor oxygen conditions at the bottom. However, these fish species can be present to a greater

extent around the shallower areas where oxygen conditions at the bottom are better. The species that may be concerned are

shorthorn sculpin, long spined oxhead, flounder, Baltic flounder, turbot, plaice and cod. Pelagic species such as sprat and Baltic

herring are expected to be more common in the farm area.

During the construction phase, increased sediment spread from drilling, dredging and piling may have an impact on fish. Fish

roe and fry in particular can be affected as suspended particles can, under certain conditions, become trapped in gills, cover roe

and result in poorer conditions for survival. Particles are most likely to get stuck in juvenile fish gills as their swimming skills

are poorer and they cannot avoid affected areas, as adults are likely to do (Bergstrom et al., 2012). However, the construction

phase is a relatively short phase and the volumes of suspended materials from, for example, drilling can be reduced in various

ways. Particles are also transported away with currents and dissipated over large areas, which means that their impact is

47

expected to be limited (Didrikas & Wijkmark, 2009). Where necessary, technical or other mitigation measures may be taken to

minimise the impact on fish.

During the construction phase, increased noise levels may also occur which could affect the orientation sense of fish, their

location of prey, communication and recruitment. If the sound levels are high enough, they can cause temporary or permanent

damage to the hearing organs and the swim bladder and other internal organs (Andersson et al., 2016). Some surveys prior to

the construction phase may lead to temporary avoidance behaviour in the vicinity of the survey vessel for certain species such

as cod. Sound from the construction phase is considered to have the greatest impact on cod during the spawning period

(Hammar et al., 2014). Within and in the vicinity of the farm area there are no active cod spawning grounds that could be

affected. However, there are known spawning areas for sprat and possible spawning areas for flounder (HELCOM, 2020). Any

impact on these populations will be investigated in the future environmental impact assessment.

Construction of foundations can lead to changes in habitats that can have a positive effect on the composition of fish

communities through the creation of the so-called reef effect. Fish are usually attracted to structures (Wright et al., 2020) and

the more complex the structures are, the more fish accumulate at them (Hammar et al., 2008b).

During the operational phase, noise (<700 Hz) is emitted from the turbines which may cause certain behavioural reactions in

fish and mask fishes’ own sounds (Popper et al., 2019). However, accumulations of fish observed around foundations following

establishment of wind power facilities indicates that the potential impact of noise during the operating phase is of minor

importance (Bergström et al. 2013; Stenberg et al. 2015).

There are several studies that show that if marine areas are protected from fishing, there are clear measurable effects with

increased quantities of fish (Öhman et al., Roberts et al., 2001; Kamukuru et al.; 2004; White et al., 2008). The wind farm could

to some extent protect fish populations in a similar way.

During the operating phase, electromagnetic fields occur around marine cables that could affect fish such as eels (Oman et al.,

2007; Westerberg et al. 2007; Westerberg and Lagenfelt 2008). Studies of the effect of cables on eels in the Lillgrund wind farm

could not demonstrate any behavioural change, but a certain tendency toward increased movement time when there were

higher currents in the cable was observed. A study on trout shows that roe can be adversely affected by electromagnetic fields

but that the effects on larvae are marginal (Fey et al., 2019). Other studies have failed to demonstrate any significant effect of

marine cables on fish (Dunlop et al., 2016). The overall impact of marine cables on fish is expected to be limited.

During the decommissioning phase, effects in the form of sediment dispersal, sedimentation and elevated sound levels may

occur, but to a lesser extent than in the construction phase. Any positive effects from oxygenation and reef effects will disappear

when the operation is dismantled.

6.3.4 Birds

The main effects that wind power can have on birds are:

• Barrier effects – that birds avoid areas with wind turbines, which creates barriers in the seascape that birds are forced

to detour around,

• Displacement effects – that birds avoid wind turbine areas and therefore lose suitable areas for foraging, nursing, rest,

etc.; and

• Collisions – birds colliding with wind turbines and being injured or killed.

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The following briefly describes these influence factors for birds linked to the construction, operation and decommissioning

phases of the operation. During the construction and decommissioning phases, birds will mainly be affected by increased boat

traffic, which can lead to some barrier or displacement effects. However, the greatest impact normally occurs during the

operational phase of a wind farm, so potential effects during the operational phase are described below. For future

environmental impact assessments, counts and modelling will be carried out to assess the impact on birds.

Several of the bird species that use the waters around Gotland have declining population trends and are listed on the Swedish

Red List, Helcom's Red List and IUCN's Red List for species in Europe. This concerns, for example, eider, long-tailed ducks, black

guillemots, red-throated loons, velvet scoters, and lesser black-backed gulls. Several species are also included in Annex 1 of the

Birds Directive, such as smew, red-throated loons and black-throated loons. How the species could be affected by the

construction of the wind farm will be further investigated, although most of these species mainly use coastal water areas.

OX2 has been conducting counts of bird fauna for several years in the area south and east of Gotland. Further counts to study

bird life and migration during the spring, summer and autumn will be carried out from land and at sea using, for example, boats,

radar and aircraft. These counts will form part of the report in future environmental impact assessments. Potential

displacement effects, barrier effects and collision risks during the nesting period will be investigated further.

6.3.5 Bats

The operation is not expected to have any impact on bats during the construction and decommissioning phases. During the

operational phase, bats can be affected by the risk of colliding with the rotor blades and thus being injured or killed. During

migration, bat species found in Sweden generally fly at low altitude above the sea, which minimises the risk of collision with the

wind turbine rotor blades (Ahlén et al., 2009). However, when bats come in contact with high objects they may increase their

flight altitude, which increases the risk of collision. Foraging and migration of bats over the sea take place in relatively warm

and calm conditions. 2007; Ahlén et al., 2009). Counts using ultrasound detectors were made in connection with marine

biological surveys in the farm area during 2023 and 2024.

Ran is close enough to land that bats could potentially use parts of the farm area to forage. Bats also may pass through the farm

area during spring or autumn migration.

6.3.6 Marine mammals

Underwater noise can affect marine mammals. Its impact depends on several factors such as the intensity and frequency of

sound, whether the sound is in the form of impulses or continuous, the salinity of water, bottom conditions, the distance to the

sound source, and the hearing spectrum and sensitivity of the animals. Higher noise levels may result in avoidance behaviour.

If marine mammals do not avoid the area and instead are continuously exposed to high sound levels, there is a risk of temporary

hearing loss (Temporary Threshold Shift) and then permanent hearing loss (Permanent Threshold Shift).

The construction phase is the period that will generate the most noise. Noise emissions may come from several different

sources, including from ships, surveys and work in the form of pile driving, for example. Mitigation measures such as bubble

curtains, soft-start equipment and restriction periods can be used to limit the impact on marine mammals. Noise levels will be

modelled and the potential impact, as well as the need for mitigation measures, will be investigated in future environmental

impact assessments.

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During the operational phase, the wind turbines can emit low-frequency sounds. In previous studies, however, this has not been

considered to have a negative impact on either seals or porpoises, which in the operational phase have returned to the farm

area to at least the same extent as before.

When the foundations for energy production plant are installed, it means that hard substrates are added, which can contribute

to habitats for sessile animals, a so-called reef effect. This can attract fish wishing to feed at the foundations, which in turn can

also attract marine mammals to also feed around the foundations (Bergstrom et al., 2012; Russell et al., 2014).

In the decommissioning phase, impacts occur similar to those in the construction phase with underwater noise and sediment

dispersal, but to a lesser extent. Any positive effects from reef effects will disappear if the operation is dismantled.

6.3.7 Green infrastructure for biodiversity and ecosystem services

Several different forms of ecosystem services can be expected to develop around the wind farm during the operational phase.

The formation of reefs around the foundations may lead to the establishment of filtering organisms (Andersson & Ohman,

2010), which could locally create a potentially regulating ecosystem service in the form of locally improved water quality

(McLaughlan & Aldridge, 2013). The increase in filtering and photosynthetic organisms around the foundations can contribute

to an aggregation of fish that could benefit the fishing industry (supplying ecosystem services) (Grove et al., 1989).

Better habitats for commercial species combined with reduced trawling would benefit coastal fishing, which could also provide

an important cultural ecosystem service for the local area. The impact on ecosystem services and possible measures to minimise

impacts and promote local ecosystems will be investigated in the development of the environmental impact assessment.

Nature-inclusive design

Nature-inclusive design will contribute to the ecological function of native species, with a focus on strengthening the position of

endangered species and habitats. The starting point is that the measures should primarily be based on available technology that

has been previously tested with good results. The ecological benefits are difficult to quantify in the initial stages, so that

monitoring after implementation is recommended. In order to determine the opportunities and needs for protection, a more

detailed analysis is needed to identify the area-specific need and the target species. Offshore wind power provides an

opportunity to increase biodiversity through, among other things, the creation of hard substrates, such as erosion protection

and foundations. The foundations of the wind farm add hard surfaces that sessile animals, such as mussels, can potentially use

as habitat, which can increase biodiversity locally. Fish have also been observed foraging around wind power foundations.

In addition to nature-inclusive design, tests will be carried out with artificial reefs and structures for fish as well as the potential

for blue mussel farming. This will be investigated further and described in the future environmental impact assessment.

6.4 Landscape scenery

Wind turbines affect the visual impression of the land or seascape they are in. Ran is located at sea, about 12 kilometres from

Gotland. The planned turbines have an overall height of 310 metres. The wind turbines will therefore be visible from a large

distance from open spaces in the surrounding seascape or from high locations on shore. On days with good visibility, the wind

farm will be visible from shore during the operational phase. Furthermore, wind turbines with a total height of more than 150

metres need to be marked with obstruction lighting, which can increase visibility for the turbines at night.

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The wind turbines from the farm area will be visible from land, regardless of design options and their overall height.

Visualisations and photo-montages will be created from several vantage points on Gotland in order to demonstrate the expected

seascape view after the establishment of the wind farm. In the context of the environmental impact assessment, so-called

visibility analyses will also be produced, which will show from which places in the surrounding sea and landscape wind turbines

will be visible.

The impact of the wind farm on landscape image will be investigated through a combined landscape/heritage environment

analysis. The analysis also includes a detailed account of all the values that may be affected by the wind farm, as well as an

assessment of its impact on the experience of the heritage environment and landscape.

Recreational activities and offshore activities during construction and decommissioning may be affected by increased vessel

traffic, noise and closures. During construction and decommissioning, leisure craft may also have to take detours as a result of

closures, but as the wind farm does not overlap with any identified shipping routes, this effect is deemed to be limited. During

the operational phase, wind farms can contribute to favourable recreational fishing, as foundations can attract fish and

regulation of trawling in the farm area reduces the pressure from large-scale fishing. The impact on leisure and outdoor

activities will be further described in future environmental impact assessments.

6.5 Commercial fishing

During the construction phase, safety distances to construction activities will apply, which may affect commercial fishing by loss

of available areas to fish in and longer transport distances. During the operational phase, wind farms usually entail that the area

becomes a fishing-free zone, although no formal ban on fishing applies within the farm. This is because of the nature of currently

used fishing gear. If new gear is developed, wind farm areas can potentially be used for commercial fishing in the future. Ran is

located in an area where intensive trawl fishing is conducted and an establishment there is expected to affect commercial fishing

east of Gotland. The impact during the decommissioning phase is expected to be similar to that at the construction phase, where

the safety distance to the works means loss of fishing areas and longer transport distances.

The impact on fishing will be further described in future environmental impact assessments.

6.6 Climate

The construction of the wind farm will have a certain climate impact in the form of the production of wind turbines and other

installations, as well as transport and installation work. The decommissioning phase also involves a certain climate footprint

linked to vehicle operation and so on. These activities will be limited in time and scope. The wind farm will instead contribute

to the realisation of Sweden’s climate target of zero net emissions in 2045 during its operational phase. Electricity production

from the wind farm would have a capacity of about 8 TWh, which is equivalent to the capacity to supply up to 1.7 million

households with fossil-free electricity. The impact of the wind farm on the climate will be further explained in the future

environmental impact assessment.

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6.7 Infrastructure and planning conditions

6.7.1 Maritime activities

During the construction and decommissioning phase of the wind farm, disturbances to shipping may occur due to increased

boat traffic and possible closures within the farm area. However, the disturbances will be temporary and limited to the time

that the construction work is ongoing.

As the wind farm is located so as not to overlap with designated shipping lanes, the risk of conflict during the operational phase

is assessed as low and the impact is expected to be limited. However, an establishment may lead to an increased risk of collision,

especially during days with conditions of reduced visibility. A safety distance should be created from the outer wind turbines in

the wind farm to the nearby shipping lanes, so as not to endanger the safety of vessels (Swedish Transport Agency, 2023). As

the farm area is located next to a shipping lane, the maritime risks will be investigated in more detail with a more detailed risk

analysis for shipping in the future environmental impact assessment.

6.7.2 Aviation

New obstacles within an MSA area can have negative consequences on air traffic and require a revision of the flight altitude in

the current MSA area. The Ran wind farm area overlaps marginally with the MSA area of the airport, and may therefore have

an impact on aviation in this respect. A flight obstacle analysis will be performed to determine the impact on the MSA area.

Visby Airport is a military airport and is thus a designated area of national interest for national the Swedish Defence Forces

(Swedish Armed Forces, 2019).

The flight operations of the Swedish Armed Forces may also be affected in the form of restrictions such as flight altitudes and/or

airways. However, the farm area does not overlap with any designated low-flight area or the operations of the Swedish Armed

Forces with regards to aviation. Aviation should therefore not be affected during the various stages of establishment. Potential

impacts and interactions with stakeholders will be further investigated before future environmental impact assessments.

6.7.3 Military areas

Ran borders on the Swedish Armed Forces' naval exercise area, which is of Swedish national interest. Objects higher than 20

metres risk affecting the national interest of the Swedish Armed Forces. Wind turbines can, among other things, have a negative

impact on the Swedish Armed Forces’ radar system, radio links, signal reconnaissance, flight operations, and exercise and

shooting operations. A dialogue on co-existence will be conducted with the Swedish Armed Forces.

6.7.4 Environmentally hazardous objects and dumping areas

Within Ran there is a known area with an elevated risk of the occurrence of sunken mines. Magnetic field surveys will be carried

out to detect any mines prior to the construction of the wind farm. The risk assessment regarding mines will be considered

further in the forthcoming environmental impact assessment.

52

6.8 Resource management

The winds overseas are often both stronger and more even than over land, which makes it possible to build larger and more

efficient farms (Boverket, 2022). The use of the winds at sea for energy production thus entails a good management of natural

resources.

Wind turbines are made up of components that, among other things, contain metals, as well as concrete foundations. According

to the Swedish Energy Agency (2021), emissions from manufacturing, raw materials, assembly, maintenance, disassembly and

recycling are the ones that make up wind power’s combined impact per kWh produced. It takes about six months for an onshore

wind turbine to produce the same amount of energy as was required to produce it (Swedish Energy Agency, 2021).

When decommissioning the wind farm, dismantled wind turbines can be renovated and resold for reuse if a demand exists, or

the components of the wind turbines can be recycled. The resources employed to produce the wind turbines can thus continue

to be used, even after the wind farm has been phased out.

6.9 Cumulative effects

Cumulative effects refer to the effects of other activities or measures that may have environmental effects within the impact

area of the project in question. Cumulative effects can occur when several different effects interact with each other, both when

different types of effects from one and the same activity interact or if effects from different activities interact. Cumulative effects

may include, for example, impacts on birds, fish and marine mammals from various types of activity within a specified

geographical area.

A starting point for assessing cumulative effects is to include existing and permited activities located near the farm area, which

may potentially affect the same environmental aspects as relevant farms. The cumulative effects of the two farms, Pleione and

Ran, and of activities planned and in the early stages of project planning will also be described as far as possible on the basis of

information available about these activities.

OX2 sees great advantages in the parallel development of the farm areas of Ran and Pleione, the latter being located about 20

kilometres east of Ran, as the environmental impact assessments will take into account the common environmental impacts

and any cumulative effects that may arise. A separate notification and environmental impact assessment will be prepared for

the Pleione energy farm.

The environmental impact assessments will include potential cumulative effects from other activities in the area, such as those

from shipping, pipelines, cables and other activities.

7. Potential transboundary impacts

The environmental impact assessment prepared in accordance with Article 4 of the Espoo Convention, will assess and describe

the expected transboundary impact. The main transboundary impact that could arise is set out in this chapter.

53

7.1 Birds

The preliminary impact on birds described in section 6.3.4 may extend beyond the Swedish EEZ, in view of the fact that certain

species of birds move over very large areas and are therefore found within the maritime territories and zones of multiple

countries. Further studies will be carried out in 2023 to provide more detailed information on migratory birds' movements

during spring and autumn migrations regarding the direction of flight, altitude and number of species in or near the farm area.

The impact on the land and seascape will be described in the future environmental impact assessment.

7.2 Marine mammals

Porpoises, grey seals and common seals are identified species in several Swedish, Polish, German and Danish Natura 2000 areas.

The potential impacts described in section 6.3.6 may extend beyond the Swedish border, since the areas these species occur in

may comprise parts of the territory of several countries. The impact on marine mammals in the Swedish EEZ is expected to be

limited, which means that the potential transboundary impact can also be expected to be limited. The impact on the land and

seascape will be described in the future environmental impact assessment.

7.3 Landscape scenery

The effects on the land and seascape in Sweden’s economic zone will be investigated through future visibility analyses. As the

nearest mainland outside the economic zone of Sweden (Latvia) is located around 126 km from Ran, the transboundary impact

is expected to be very limited. The impact on the land and seascape will be described in the future environmental impact

assessment.

7.4 Fishing

The preliminary environmental impact discussed in section 6.5 may also have transboundary implications for commercial

fishermen from Denmark. The impact on commercial fishing can be achieved by loss of available areas to fish in and longer

transport distances. The impact on fishing will be described in the future environmental impact assessment.

7.5 Maritime activities

The preliminary environmental impact shown in section 6.7.1 may also involve a transboundary impact, mainly in the form of

temporary effects on the maritime traffic in the area due to increased boat traffic and possible closures in the project area during

the construction phase. The planned wind farm borders on a shipping lane and there is a risk of impact on shipping in the form

of increased collision risk. A nautical risk analysis will be carried out and the risk to shipping will be considered in the

forthcoming environmental impact assessment.

7.6 Cumulative effects

As described in Section 6.9, cumulative assessments will be carried out for the existing, planned and permited activities located

in the vicinity of the farm area. The environmental impact assessment will include a consideration of the cumulative effects from

other activities in the area, such as those from shipping, pipelines, cables and other existing activities and activities for which

permits have been granted.

54

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58

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8.2 References for databases for maps

Metria

https://metria.se/

Lantmäteriet (The Swedish mapping, cadastral and land registration authority)

https://www.lantmateriet.se/

Swedish Environmental Protection Agency

https://www.naturvardsverket.se/

The Swedish Transport Agency

https://www.trafikverket.se/for-dig-i-branschen/Planera-och-utreda/samhallsplanering/Riksintressen/Kartor-over-

riksintressen/

County Administrative Board

https://ext-geodatakatalog.lansstyrelsen.se/GeodataKatalogen/

EMODnet

Data used in this consultation dossier have been made available by EMODnet's Geology Project http://www.emodnet-

geology.eu, funded by the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries of the European Commission. The data was

collected by the Finnish Geological Survey, GTK.

https://emodnet.eu/en/bathymetry

Helcom

https://helcom.fi/

The Swedish Maritime Administration

https://www.sjofartsverket.se/sv/

Suur-Ameerika 1 / Tallinn 10122 / 626 2802/ [email protected] / www.kliimaministeerium.ee/

Registrikood 70001231

Vastavalt nimekirjale

16.01.2024 nr 6-3/24/165-2

Rootsi „Ran“ meretuulepargi projekti piiriülene keskkonnamõju hindamine

Rootsi on piiriülese keskkonnamõju hindamise konventsiooni (Espoo konventsiooni) alusel

teavitanud Eestit „Ran“ meretuulepargi projektist. Arendaja Ran Vindpark AB kavandab püstitada Rootsi territoriaalvetes 90–121 tuulikust (maksimumkõrgusega 310 m) koosneva meretuulepargi

koguvõimsusega 1,8 GW. Kirjale on lisatud Rootsi saadetud ingliskeelne projekti ning selle elluviimisega kaasnevat keskkonnamõju kirjeldav dokument.

Lähtuvalt Rootsi määratud vastamistähtajast ootame 30. jaanuariks 2024 põhjendatud arvamusi selle kohta, kas Eesti peaks osalema „Ran“ meretuulepargi projekti piiriülese keskkonnamõju

hindamise menetluses. Juhul, kui peate vajalikuks Eesti osalemist menetluses, on oodatud ka põhjendatud arvamused selle kohta, milline oluline kahjulik piiriülene keskkonnamõju võib Eestile kaasneda, et arendaja saaks sellega arvestada keskkonnamõju hindamise materjalide

koostamisel.

Lugupidamisega

(allkirjastatud digitaalselt)

Taimo Aasma Elurikkuse kaitse osakonna juhataja asekantsleri ülesannetes

Lisa: meretuulepargi dokument

Rainer Persidski, 626 2973

[email protected]