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Port infrastructure expansion is essential for wind energy

Port infrastructure expansion is essential for wind energy
Copyright: Adobe Stock | sanderstock

Germany and Europe are pursuing very ambitious targets for the expansion of offshore wind energy.

Around 9 GW of offshore capacity is currently installed in Germany. Output is expected to rise to 30 GW by 2030. At least 40 GW of installed capacity are slated by 2035 and 70 GW by 2045. The target for the EU as a whole is 120 GW by 2030 and up to 300 GW by 2050.

For Germany, this means that an additional 60 GW will be installed over the next 20 years. In other words, the numbers translate into an average of three GW per year or 200 WTGs per year, based on current turbines with a capacity of 15 MW. Expanding port infrastructure is vitally important, quite aside from the necessary resources in the area of installation vessels and the increasing demand for skilled labour. In addition to the wind turbines – consisting of nacelle, tower and rotor blades – the foundation structures themselves require considerable space. At the same time, the ports are used not only for offshore wind energy, but are also crucial for the import of large components such as towers and rotor blades for onshore wind farms. This is why downstream onshore infrastructure and logistics – so roads and motorways – must also be upgraded to meet the requirements for onward transport of the components to their intended wind farm locations.

An analysis by WindEurope, the European wind energy association, comes to the conclusion that for the offshore wind sector to meet its targets, investments totalling EUR 8.5 billion will be required by 2030 to expand port infrastructure across Europe. Stiftung Offshore-Windenergie calculated in the course of this year that Germany will require at least an additional 200 hectares for offshore components and another 100 hectares for onshore components.

Cuxhaven is the focal point for both offshore expansion and the import of key large components in Germany. The production facilities of Siemens Gamesa (nacelles for offshore wind turbines), Titan (monopile foundations) and Nordmark (rotor hubs, rotor houses, etc.) are all located here. Cuxhaven is also the world's largest port for onshore imports. The German Offshore Industry Centre (DOIZ) operates facilities on a total of 450 hectares. Development of berths 5 to 7 will begin in early 2025 and, once completed will provide up to 35 hectares of additional space. Currently under construction, a heavy-duty bridge with a load capacity of up to 5,000 tonnes will later connect the berths at the port with other landside areas and the motorway. So the first steps have been taken. But significantly more space will be needed to meet the forecast requirement of 300 hectares, and this will have to be developed in the years ahead.  

About Constantin Lange

Profilbild zu: Constantin Lange

I’m responsible for innovation and research at the cluster and therefore act as the interface between business, industry and science. I focus on wind and solar power, as well as on heating. I manage our specialist forums and various events, including direct information and discussion formats for our member companies.

by Constantin Lange