Equinor’s Bandibuli project secures approval of the Environmental Impact Assessment

The Bandibuli floating offshore wind project off the coast of Ulsan, owned by Equinor, a Norwegian state-owned broad energy company, has received approval of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). Achieving the milestone allows the Bandibuli project to participate in the fixed-price contract auction for wind power projects. The EIA is an important step in the offshore wind project approval process and a fundamental requirement for subsequent permits.

Since the Bandibuli project obtained the electric business license in November 2021, it has conducted an extensive EIA for about two years, starting in December 2021. This period is approximately twice the standard one-year survey period typically conduced in the industry. Monthly surveys and assessments were performed, covering studies of marine mammals, seabird, marine water quality, sediment quality, marine physics, air quality, land use, noise & vibration, terrain & geology, and socio-economic impact. The process involved consultations with local and international experts alongside reviews by specialized institutions, leading to the successful completion of the EIA.

Based on Equinor’s extensive experience operating floating offshore wind farms worldwide, Bandibuli has conducted a thorough Environmental Impact Assessment with, more than 200 experts, advanced technologies, and equipment were deployed to collect comprehensive data exceeding local standards. For instance, to gain a detailed understanding of the ecological status of marine mammals in the East Sea, Bandibuli collaborated with local professors and experts, utilizing acoustic monitoring equipment to enhance the precision of the marine ecosystem survey.

Bjørn Inge Braathen, Country Managing Director of Equinor Korea, stated, "The Environmental Impact Assessment for the Bandibuli project was conducted through close cooperation with local fishermen and residents, adhering to both domestic EIA and international ESIA standards set by the International Finance Corporation." He added, "The participation of local fishermen's vessels as support ships ensured the safe and successful completion of the EIA. We are grateful to the Ulsan local fishermen for their important support in this process."

Torgeir Nakken, Project Director for the Bandibuli Floating Offshore Wind Project, stated, “With the successful completion of the EIA, the Bandibuli project is now eligible to participate in the Korean fixed price contract auction for wind power projects later this year. It is an important milestone towards the industrialization of floating offshore wind. Equinor established the concept of floating offshore wind technology with the installation of Hywind Demo in 2009. Since then, Equinor has led the development of floating offshore wind technology, including the construction of Hywind Scotland, the world’s first floating offshore wind farm in 2017 and the launch of Hywind Tampen, the world’s largest floating offshore wind farm in 2023. By leveraging this experience together with Korea’s world class supply chain we believe Bandibuli will be the next step in the development of floating offshore wind.”

Semi Kim, responsible for the Permitting of the Bandibuli project, stated, "Over the past two years, we have actively collaborated with many renowned local and international experts to gain a precise understanding of the marine environment, leveraging learnings from previous floating projects in the UK and Norway. The data collected and analyzed for the EIA could be the largest dataset on the marine ecosystem of the East Sea. We plan to continue these detailed studies during the construction and operational phases of the project ".