The offshore wind expansion must not fail because of the ports!

2. February 2024

Joint press release:

  • Federal Association of Offshore Wind Energy (BWO)
  • Central Association of German Seaport Companies (ZDS)
  • Senator for Economics, Ports and Transformation, Bremen
  • Senator for Economics and Innovation, Hamburg
  • Minister for Economy, Infrastructure, Tourism and Labor, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
  • Minister for Economic Affairs, Transport, Construction and Digitalization, Lower Saxony
  • Minister for Energy Transition, Climate Protection, Environment and Nature, Schleswig-Holstein

Berlin, Bremen, Hamburg, Hanover, Kiel, Schwerin – February 2, 2024

The offshore wind expansion must not fail because of the ports!

The port capacities along the German coast are not sufficient for the legally stipulated expansion of offshore wind energy to 30 gigawatts by 2030 and 70 gigawatts by 2045. Revenue from offshore wind auctions could provide money for expanding the ports. That is why the Federal Association of Offshore Wind Energy (BWO) and the Central Association of German Seaport Companies (ZDS), in solidarity with the coastal states, are calling on the federal government to work together on a pragmatic and quick solution for financing this expansion.

“It is good that the federal government wants to introduce a transformation component for the use of revenue from the offshore wind auctions. This should, among other things, be used to finance the expansion of the ports and their hinterland connections. In this way, we support the expansion of offshore wind energy and ensure security of supply with cost-effective electricity from offshore wind energy - for the whole of Germany. “Offshore wind base ports as well as ports that will eventually be used for the dismantling of old wind turbines can also benefit from the establishment of numerous companies from the supply chain,” says BWO managing director Stefan Thimm.

“Without the German seaports, the planned expansion goals for offshore wind energy cannot be achieved. With a view to the planned ramp-up of output from wind energy at sea, the political course must be set quickly for the expansion of heavy-duty areas in the seaports. Here, the federal government in particular has a duty to contribute financially to the success of the energy transition. It would be logical to use the proceeds from the granting of offshore licenses for wind farms at sea and would not put any further strain on the federal budget. “In view of the expansion goals, we cannot afford to postpone the necessary political decisions any further,” says Angela Titzrath, President of the Central Association of German Seaport Companies.

“The ports are the heart of the energy transition because they are the prerequisite for the success of the expansion goals. The EnergyPort that we are planning in Bremerhaven is a very good example of this. It establishes the port as a key location for the offshore industry and also as a hub for the import and export of renewable energies. “This is associated with great potential for value creation because it brings with it significant settlement and employment effects,” says Kai Stührenberg, State Councilor for Ports at the Senator for Economic Affairs, Ports and Transformation, Bremen.

“We can only overcome the challenges of the climate crisis and the high goals that we have set ourselves for the expansion of renewable energies in Germany together. A good energy supply is crucial for the entire industrial location, so it is essential that we position ourselves well together in Germany. Hamburg, as the German wind capital with a high concentration of companies and institutions that represent the entire wind energy value chain, also has a great interest in the decarbonization of its industry. The expansion of wind energy and the efficient German seaports are a central factor,” says Dr. Melanie Leonhard, Hamburg's Senator for Economics and Innovation. 

“The ports in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania are currently undergoing major structural change. It is very clear that the ports are of central importance for the expansion of offshore wind energy as set out in the federal coalition agreement. We are already doing our part by establishing and strengthening the ports in Sassnitz-Mukran and Rostock as installation, service and supplier locations. To achieve this, it is necessary that the ports are continuously adapted to the requirements of the expansion over the next few years. “We need the support of the federal government,” says Reinhard Meyer, Minister for Economy, Infrastructure, Tourism and Labor of the State of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.

“The expansion of the port in Cuxhaven with additional berths has already been approved, and the state of Lower Saxony has agreed, like the port operator, to contribute 100 million euros to the expansion of the German Offshore Industry Center DOIZ in Cuxhaven. We must ensure that the financial needs of our ports are reliably secured and that the federal government contributes financially. We know the need for expansion of the ports along our coast and should take the opportunity to realize the project and support the expansion of other locations,” says Olaf Lies, Lower Saxony Minister for Economic Affairs, Transport, Construction and Digitalization.

“Schleswig-Holstein is a wind power country between two seas. Our ports on the west coast can play an even stronger role in the energy transition for all of Germany. Maintenance, repairs or dismantling and recycling of offshore wind turbines can ideally be carried out from there. “Schleswig-Holstein is ready to be a good location for offshore companies,” says Tobias Goldschmidt, Minister for Energy Transition, Climate Protection, Environment and Nature of the State of Schleswig-Holstein.

 

Image: The port of Cuxhaven with the section for the planned berths 5-7. (c) Cuxport GmbH