Speaking during the Port of Esbjerg’s annual meeting, Chairman of the Board Flemming N. Enevoldsen, informed that the wind business is flourishing. In addition, more Ro-Ro cargo and more ship calls mean that the Port has delivered a satisfactory profit for 2018.
Namely, commenting on these results, CEO of Energinet, Thomas Egebo, noted that:
If in Denmark we succeed in seizing the opportunity, the wind hub of the North Sea may prove to be the green equivalent of the Norwegian oil adventure. The potential is enormous
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Currently, 11 GW of offshore wind power comes from farms installed in the North Sea, and a new large 800 MW farm is on its way in the Danish zone. Nonetheless, screening is being conducted for additional 10 GW in Danish waters alone. By comparison, the Danish consumption is about 6 GW.
Regarding, the Ro-Ro cargo in 2018, it was the highest in five years, and 1,210 MW offshore wind power was shipped. This marks the second-highest level in the past five years. The Port of Esbjerg is expecting growth in both areas in the years ahead.
During the meeting, the Port also highlighted the redevelopment of the Tyra field as a ray of hope for the oil and gas industry in Esbjerg. This is a EUR 2.8 billion project that will create thousands of jobs.
In addition, at the end of 2019, the environmental impact assessment (EIA) under way for a potential port expansion of up to 1 million square metres is expected to be completed.
Moreover, Mr. Egebo, focused on the huge potential of the North Sea. He mentioned that there are opportunities for a huge export adventure, which can make the North Sea the starting point for a green equivalent to the Norwegian oil adventure through offshore wind.
In order to achieve this however, various challenges must be solved first, such as he ‘cross-border energy’, as a borderless collaboration is needed across countries, sectors and energy chains.
What is more, the Port presented the ‘Hub and spoke’ vision. This aims to save 30% on construction costs. Until now, new facilities had to be built to transport the energy every time a new offshore wind farm is constructed. With the ‘Hub’ approach and by making an electricity web, the wind farms can be connected with less routes to the mainland.
