EUROPE: OFFSHORE WIND
PORT SUPPORT REQUIRED Wind Europe says Europe urgently needs to invest in port infrastructure to support a massive expansion in offshore wind. Felicity Landon reports
8 The port of Gdynia is preparing to play a key role in supporting offshore wind system installation – the country is to spend US$27 billion on the sector
Europe’s ports need to invest €6.5bn between now and 2030 to support the expansion of offshore wind, according to a new report from Wind Europe – which says the investment could be paid back in just five years and would bring significant savings for electricity consumers and society as a whole. In ‘A 2030 Vision for European Offshore Wind Ports’, Wind Europe says that the volume of offshore wind in Europe needs to rise from 25 GW to 110 GW in the next ten years to meet the EU target of 38-40 per cent renewable energy by 2030. Overall, the EU goal of climate neutrality by 2050 requires a 25-fold increase in offshore wind, it says. At present, Europe’s ports support the deployment of 3 GW of new offshore wind farms every year – by 2030, they will need to be supporting the deployment of 11 GW of new offshore wind farms every year, says the report. “Ports are central to the development of offshore wind. They play a key role for the local supply chain, logistics and supporting infrastructure. Ports are where operation and maintenance of offshore wind farms are run, where all offshore wind turbines and other equipment get transported, and where floating turbines are assembled. And they will have a prominent role in the production and distribution of renewable hydrogen.” However, it warns, ports can only deliver the services required if they make significant investments to upgrade and expand their infrastructure. “Crucially, ports need to expand their land, reinforce their quays, enhance their deep-sea berths and carry out other civil works. They need to do this to cater for the operating and maintaining of a larger fleet (including training facilities), for upcoming decommissioning projects and to host new manufacturing centres for bottomfixed and floating offshore wind systems. Ports also need to diversify their activities to support the decarbonisation of industries, transport and heating in coastal areas.” Wind Europe says space is and will become a bigger issue for ports, not only on land but also on water – and to
overcome this, ports will require “new strategies and regional collaboration efforts”. SIX COUNTRIES Six countries – the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, France and Poland – will together account for 85% of the total capacity across Europe, says the report, although at present France and Poland have no offshore wind farms so face a particularly big challenge in terms of strengthening the sector. The UK Government has set the highest benchmark with a 40 GW target by 2030, including 1 GW of floating wind. Germany is committed to 20 GW and the Netherlands has clear plans to expand offshore wind to 11.5 GW by 2030; Denmark has plans for two energy islands in the North and Baltic seas, totalling more than 10 GW of wind power. Poland aims to add 5.9 GW and France could have 7.5 GW by 2030, says the report. Eighty percent of all installations in Europe over the next five years will be in the North Sea. PORT PLANS TO FACILIATE OFFSHORE WIND GOALS The following highlights, on a country-by-country basis, major port developments and plans to support national commitments to achieving ambitious investments in offshore wind: 8 Poland: “A Big Challenge…” Poland has set in motion port reconstruction works to support its commitments to offshore wind developments in the Baltic Sea. In May, politicians approved plans for the development of port service centres at Ustka and Łeba, which have been allocated about €430m each. The construction of an offshore wind farm installation terminal at Gdynia was confirmed earlier in the year – the 30-hectare facility will enable the simultaneous handling of two installation units. The port is collaborating with Danish
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