Port directors in Børsen: State must support port expansions if climate targets are to be met

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The Esbjerg agreement, signed earlier this year by Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium, will increase offshore wind capacity in the North Sea to a total of 65 gigawatts by 2030.

It's ambitious and good for the climate - not to mention the Danish ports that will have to facilitate the shipping of the thousands of offshore wind turbines.

But, stresses both Odense Port and Esbjerg Port's directors, Dennis Jul Pedersen and Carsten: the development of port infrastructure must and must keep pace with the countries' sea wind ambitions, otherwise the latter will be very difficult to achieve.

Specifically, Jul Pedersen points out that he expects the ports around the North Sea to need 5-6 million sqm of space, and right now there are only about 3 million sqm. The necessary expansions will be so expensive that the ports cannot finance them on their own, and the port directors therefore believe it is reasonable for the state to contribute with aid crowns, as long as Denmark is a signatory to the Esbjerg agreement.  

 If the ports are not expanded, the offshore wind project will be significantly delayed, warn the port managers - and the wind industry's trade association, Green Power Denmark, agrees.