The German Offshore Wind Energy Association (BWO) has published a white paper on the security of offshore wind farms and the requirements of Germany’s Critical Infrastructure Umbrella Act (KRITIS-Dachgesetz). The paper examines how existing security standards and management systems can support compliance with the legislation and where adjustments are needed to account for the specific conditions of offshore operations.
The offshore wind sector already has established security and management systems that provide protection for critical infrastructure. Measures implemented by offshore wind farm operators contribute to safeguarding Germany’s energy infrastructure. The BWO paper, From contribution to benchmark: sector-specific requirements in the maritime environment, examines how these existing arrangements can be used and supplemented when developing security requirements.
Offshore wind farms operate under different conditions from critical infrastructure on land. They are located far offshore, can only be reached by vessel or helicopter when weather conditions permit, and operate in an area where government responsibilities are divided between several authorities. Security requirements designed for land-based facilities therefore need to be adapted to these circumstances rather than applied unchanged. The aim is to maintain effective protection while avoiding unnecessary duplication of systems and procedures.
Building on existing security arrangements
The BWO has been involved in discussions on critical infrastructure protection and considers existing security arrangements within the offshore wind sector an important basis for implementing the new legislation. The association argues that new requirements should build on established systems rather than introduce parallel structures that could undermine the overall level of protection.
Adapting requirements to offshore conditions
Offshore wind farm operators already have established security and management systems. The BWO recommends using these as the starting point when translating the requirements of the Critical Infrastructure Umbrella Act into sector-specific measures.
Section 14 of the legislation allows operators and industry associations to propose their own sector-specific standards. In its white paper, the BWO assesses approximately 30 operator obligations to determine whether existing requirements and compliance arrangements can be applied to offshore operations without modification.
In most cases, existing approaches can be retained, although adjustments to response times or access conditions may be necessary. Only a limited number of requirements need a different approach for offshore installations.
