Niedersachsen Ports

NIEDERSACHSEN PORTS

ENERGY TRANSITION ON THE NORTH SEA COAST

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With a total of 15 port locations around Lower Saxony, Niedersachsen Ports is the largest operator of public seaports in Germany. The future of energy security in Germany has moved into the centre of the public debate since the devastating war in Ukraine. Climate change is also forcing everyone to rethink energy supply in the long term.

Photo by Christian Bruch

Ports play an important role in the energy transition because they have always been important transhipment points for fuel sources. One goal of the energy transition is to increasingly replace fossil fuels with renewable energies.

For the seaports in Lower Saxony, the fields of action are determined by the import of energy, by optimising consumption, by supporting the expansion of renewable energies and by energy production in the port. These four fields of action offer diverse potential for the development of new energies and make a significant contribution to structural change through innovations, forward-looking investments and maintenance.

Import of energy sources

A full 70% of energy is now imported. The proportion will be at least as high in the future. Ports offer the ideal conditions for importing off-grid energy sources. One example is LNG (Liquified Natural Gas), which is considered an important bridging technology for the energy transition. Two ports –Wilhelmshaven and Stade – that are part of Niedersachsen Ports (NPorts) are in greater focus because of their favourable conditions for gas terminals. Starting from LNG, the feeders can later be used for other liquefied gases such as green hydrogen or ammonia. A new import infrastructure must be developed for this to work.

“NPorts is well prepared for these requirements,” explained Holger Banik, Managing Director of Niedersachsen Ports GmbH & Co KG and JadeWeserPort Realisations GmbH & Co KG. “With its existing infrastructure, the port of Wilhelmshaven is able to handle all future ships at short notice. Imported green energy sources in liquid or gaseous form can be made available from there via grids and storage facilities.”

Several import terminals for LNG and green energy sources are conceivable in Wilhelmshaven, in different areas of the port. This location in particular is regarded as a true energy hub, which is the

most obvious example of structural change. This gives Wilhelmshaven the opportunity to position itself as a leading location in Germany for new energies.

Wilhelmshaven proved to be the ideal site for a liquefied gas terminal, since a corresponding jetty was already present. The existing bridge has undergone a step-by-step refurbishment and is now efficient and ready for operation. After a mere 194 days, an LNG jetty was created here. Adding to the existing cargo handling facility, a docking platform and dolphins with rubbing paunches as well as mooring dolphins were constructed for the berth. This is the location where the FSRU, a Floating Storage and Regasification Unit, can be docked. This way, Wilhelmshaven will contribute to ensuring the energy supply for Germany. In the future, various gases will be handled, synthetic climate-neutral gases such as hydrogen and ammonia, as well as liquefied natural gas (LNG). These gases will be required in the transitional period - until complete climate neutrality is achieved.

At the port of Stade, after two years of intensive preparation, the application for approval for the construction of another liquefied gas feeder is approved. Construction of this jetty began in January 2023.

Energy supply and use

Alongside importing fuels, the energy transition also requires the correct handling of the necessary energy in ports. Ports are large consumers of power, so the energy requirement must be significantly reduced through efficiency measures. When less energy is used, less energy needs to be replaced with valuable renewables.

In addition, port consumers must become more electrified and use alternative fuels. Electric engines in particular offer the possibility of using energy most efficiently. NPorts is already implementing many different energy efficiency measures, including lighting, buildings and heat generation, plus working on constantly reducing its own CO2 footprint.

Photo by Christian Bruch

Photos by Andreas Burmann

The vehicle fleet, handling equipment and ferries in the ports of Lower Saxony are also gradually being electrified. Shore power is available at selected points to power ships in port. The first alternative fuels were already available in ports in 2015. Emden and Cuxhaven were the first locations in Germany to bunker LNG. Various research projects are also dedicated to the efficient use of electricity and alternative energy supply in NPorts.

Handling energy components

The locations of the port group Niedersachsen Ports are part of a supply chain for power generation components. This includes the produc tion and assembly of components for wind turbines (onshore and offshore). A wide variety of wind turbine parts are handled at almost all NPorts locations. The sites are also important for the maintenance and repair of offshore wind farms, especially Emden and Norddeich.

The Cuxhaven location is considered the German offshore industrial centre and has seen positive development in recent years. With its heavy-duty quays specially designed for efficient production and storage capacities, Cuxhaven is the hub of the German offshore industry.

The future prospects are also promising. Offshore wind power capacities will increase significantly to at least 30 GW in 2030, 40 GW in 2035 and 70 GW in 2045. For 2030 alone, this means the installation of 2,000 new wind turbines. The NPorts location in Cuxhaven is ready to react immediately to this development. The construction of the new offshore berths could start immediately.

Local energy production

NPorts’ locations offer ideal conditions for generating green energy. Electricity from wind and sun can be used directly or stored in the form of other energy sources if required.

At the Emden site, for example, large onshore wind turbines are in operation. Further potential can still be tapped in the future with small wind turbines. The solar potential is also great. The

first roof areas on NPorts buildings are already generating green electricity in the port. A solar park on NPorts sites is currently being planned in Emden.

Furthermore, hydrogen is playing an increasing role as an alternative energy source that can be obtained from green electricity. At different locations, the hydrogen issue is being approached with specific projects. Ports offer good conditions for this, because locally generated energy can be stored on site in the form of hydrogen. Ports are often landing points for offshore electricity. They are therefore ideal locations for the production of hydrogen. NPorts is currently supporting the planning and construction of hydrogen filling stations in Emden, Brake, Wilhelmshaven and Cuxhaven.

Conclusion

Favourable framework conditions are needed to ensure that ports play their role in the best possible way. The port company Niedersachsen Ports can make a variety of contributions through its many locations.

The first course has been set; the first steps have been taken. Nevertheless, NPorts are still at the very beginning of a social, market and technical transformation. In order to achieve the goals of the energy transition and security of supply, it needs suitable framework conditions. This applies in particular to ports and the social areas involved in the implementation of the energy transition in order to be able to set the course at an early stage.

“If the framework conditions are favourable,” concluded Mr Banik, “NPorts and its ports can make a significant contribution to this in the short term. This results in a wide range of opportunities from which not only our seaports but also our coastal region and the entire economy will benefit." n

Photos by Andreas Burmann

Photo by Wolfhard Scheer