Port of Esbjerg in Denmark has seen components for a total of 4,000 offshore wind turbines move through its facilties before the close of 2021. This means that the port has been involved in the development of more than 22.5 GW of offshore-based renewable energy since the first shipments in 2001. 

In order to grow with the rising demand and in line with its ambition to become one of the most competitive base ports for offshore wind for the next 20 years, the port has kicked off major development plans.

In 2026, 350 metres of new quay will be ready for use at the port of Esbjerg. The quay will be 50 metres wide and be equipped with a 30-metre-wide double loading platform for Ro-Ro vessels. All in all, the expansion by the new quay will add 750,000 m2 of extra space to the port area in Esbjerg.

The final decision was made on 24 September when the local council approved the expansion.

Project calculations and the Environmental Impact Assessment took more than five years, followed by consultations and the processing of comments. The approval covers the establishment of over 500,000 m2 of additional harbour area and another 76,000 m2 of sea, while a section of 170,000 m2 will be deepened to create new navigation channels and fairways.

Originally, Port Esbjerg applied for an even larger expansion. But as the approval process for the total expansion made slow progress, Port Esbjerg separated out part of the project and submitted a new application which has now been approved.

Vattenfall supports the Port of Esbjerg expansion

Swedish power company Vattenfall has also laid out plans to build its largest warehouse in Northern Europe with critical main components and spare parts for wind turbines at the port of Esbjerg.

The warehouse will serve wind farms in Great Britain, Scandinavia and Northern Europe when ready in 2022. Vattenfall aims to establish a 2,100 sqm indoor warehouse and an 8,200 sqm outdoor storage facility.

The purpose of the central warehouse is to stock critical main components such as gearboxes, generators, transformers, shafts and blades as well as the main components necessary for bringing the electricity on shore such as array cables and switchgear. The warehouse will be a supplement to the dedicated warehouses that will still serve the individual wind farms.