Order No. 588 on the administration of international nature conservation areas and the protection of certain species in relation to projects concerning the establishment, etc. of electricity production facilities and electricity supply networks at sea.

This Order sets rules for how the Danish Energy Agency must administer international nature conservation areas and protect certain species when deciding on offshore electricity projects, including preliminary surveys, offshore renewable-energy production facilities, test facilities, offshore electricity supply networks, seabed cables and significant changes to existing installations. Before granting a permit, the Agency must assess whether the project, alone or together with other plans or projects, may significantly affect an international nature conservation area; if so, a full impact assessment must be carried out, and permission may not be granted if the project would damage the integrity of the protected area, unless strict derogation conditions are met, including imperative reasons of overriding public interest, absence of alternatives and necessary compensatory measures. The Order also protects animal species listed in Annex IV of the Habitats Directive by prohibiting intentional disturbance, especially during breeding, rearing, hibernation or migration, and prohibiting damage or destruction of breeding or resting sites, subject only to limited derogations. It allows permit conditions to protect conservation areas and species, provides fines for breaches, and implements parts of the Habitats Directive, Birds Directive and Ramsar Convention.