Port of Esbjerg launches construction of new offshore wind hall

The construction of a new hall at Esbjerg Harbour has just started. Because the demand for facilities for offshore-related activities is increasing, and the associated components are only getting bigger. That is why the Port of Esbjerg is now launching construction work to provide a framework for handling components for the offshore wind industry.

A new hall will soon adorn Esbjerg Harbour. The building will be among the world's largest in the field of offshore wind and unlike anything previously seen at offshore wind ports in Europe.

The hall will provide a framework for handling the ever larger components in the offshore wind industry. The size of the components makes land transport difficult, while the demand for facilities is increasing. Therefore, earlier this year, the Port of Esbjerg initiated the design of a facility for offshore wind after identifying a need for storage and assembly facilities at the port. And now construction is set to begin.

Today, almost 25 gigawatts of offshore wind are installed in Europe. The Esbjerg Declaration, signed earlier this year by the four heads of government of Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium, put further focus on the speed of wind farm deployment. This significant expansion requires an equally significant expansion of storage and assembly facilities, and the Port of Esbjerg is leading the way.

"We are in dialogue with stakeholders across the value chain and the unanimous feedback is that larger ports with more capacity are a necessity. Therefore, the availability of the right facilities is crucial for the level of activity in the port. The wind turbine industry in particular is developing rapidly these years, which is why we are ensuring that the facilities are ready so that the tasks can be handled at the port of Esbjerg," says Søren Gade, chairman of the port's board.

Siemens Gamesa is the first tenant The new hall, which the Port of Esbjerg is now starting to build, will be able to house port-related storage and assembly activities. The hall is designed specifically for wind industry activities and Siemens Gamesa will be the first tenant of the building. Siemens Gamesa already has many activities at the port, and the lease agreement on the new building cements the company's presence in Esbjerg with activities.

"We are pleased to extend our long-standing cooperation with Esbjerg Port with this lease agreement. Esbjerg Port is an important hub for offshore wind activities and with the new hall we will be even better equipped for the future," says Torben Bang, CEO of Siemens Gamesa A/S.

The building is designed to provide a framework for the future handling of the increasingly heavy and large components from the offshore wind industry. The construction investment will amount to a major three-digit million sum, and the building is due to be completed by the end of 2023. The construction project has been put out to tender, and the contract will be carried out by Jorton A/S.

"It is obvious that already from 2023 there will be too few facilities available at the ports around the North Sea, and therefore we look forward to the hall being ready already next year," says port director Dennis Jul Pedersen.

Due diligence is important
"Esbjerg Port is showing due diligence with the new construction, and the port is creating the right framework for future activity in several areas. Last week I had the pleasure of telling Congress in Washington about the Port of Esbjerg's role as a European leader in offshore wind, and now the port is showing with this investment that it intends to hold on to that position," says Mayor Jesper Frost Rasmussen.

He adds that the port has drawn up a plan for large-scale offshore wind, which will require major investment in the years ahead to support the expansion of offshore wind in the North Sea and production capacity in the hinterland.

The Port of Esbjerg has also launched the largest, continuous port expansion in the port's history, as well as construction projects for quay reinforcement, deepening of the fairway and land improvements to accommodate wind turbine installation projects.

The area at Esbjerg Port, where the port is now starting construction of a giant hall. The new giant hall will be located in close proximity to the port's other wind turbine activities.

FACTS
- Size: 6,200 m2
- Height: 35 metres.
- The building will withstand maximum loads and will be one of the strongest with the highest capacities in Europe.