European ports need investment of up to €1bn for upgrades to enable expected growth in the offshore sector that will see 70GW installed by 2030, according to WindEurope.
Investment of between €0.5bn and €1bn could help the offshore wind sector cut costs by about 5.3%, the WindEurope Ports Platform said today at the Global Wind Summit in Hamburg.
“This investment would enable ports to offer efficiencies such as in more capable vessels that can complete installations faster. Or in consolidating operations, maintenance and service in dedicated port ‘hubs’,” WindEurope said.
It added that new port facilities are also needed for the expected decommissioning of 750MW of capacity and annually recycling more than 600 turbines that will reach the end of life between now and 2030.
If new investments are made the capital expenditure for the installation of 30GW of offshore wind would be reduced by €5.5bn which is equivalent to a 5.3% reduction in the levelised cost of energy, the trade group said.
WindEurope chief executive Giles Dickson said: “Ports are an essential part of the offshore wind supply chain. They are natural centres of industrial activity and help to bring together knowledge and labour to offshore wind.
“With offshore wind turbine components getting larger and installation volumes going up there’s a need for new investments in port infrastructure. This is also essential as ports will play a key role in accommodating operations related to the decommissioning of offshore wind farms and recycling of components.
“These investments will help the offshore wind sector to cut costs. And help ports to attract new business activities. We’d be keen to see new public-private partnerships and the allocation of existing EU funds to make this happen.”
WindEurope Ports Platform chair Wim Stubbe said: “The WindEurope Ports Platform provides an opportunity to exchange best practices, know-how and to jointly discuss opportunities and challenges that ports face as the offshore wind industry grows.
“We are keen to do this at a European rather than national level. We need to work together to prepare for future markets such as the decommissioning of offshore wind farms.
“It also helps ports to cement their position in the offshore wind supply chain, give visibility to their operations and to underline that they stand ready to serve the offshore wind industry.”
The platform members are: Groningen Seaports, Green Port Hull, Port of Saint-Nazaire, Port of Amsterdam, Port Atlantique La Rochelle, Port of Den Helder, Port of Esbjerg, Port of Grenaa, Port La-Nouvelle, Port of Oostende and Renewable Energy Base Oostende.