The Port of Esbjerg, a Danish offshore wind hub, expects increased activity towards 2030, both within existing and new business areas, and is looking into the possibilities of further expansion to meet the demand.
The port expects all of its capacity to be fully utilized within the next few years and has initiated a process to clarify the expansion possibilities to enable the port and its customers to continue to generate growth and jobs.
According to analyses, the Port of Esbjerg needs to further expand with approximately one million square metres and 1 kilometre of additional quay length from 2022 to 2030 to be able to meet future demand.
”The Port of Esbjerg must offer an infrastructure that matches the needs of our customers in terms of quality, layout, and size. This is the prerequisite for ensuring continued growth and development for the benefit of both the companies at the port, the port itself, and the whole region. Otherwise, our customers will look elsewhere to conduct their business,” said Ole Ingrisch , director at the Port of Esbjerg.
”We anticipate growing demand for areas at the port. Therefore, we must prepare for the future and clarify the possibilities for continuing a stepwise expansion of the port. This will enable us to expand concurrently with the demand of our customers.”
The formal environmental impact assessment process, including public consultations, is expected to start in the early autumn.
The Port of Esbjerg handled 1.1GW worth of offshore wind farm components in 2016, more than doubling the throughput recorded a year earlier.
The port is currently expanding the East Port by further 250,000m². The EUR 27 million project is expected to be completed by the end of the year.