{"id":13274,"date":"2016-03-15T15:47:53","date_gmt":"2016-03-15T14:47:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ferrovial.com\/blog\/es\/?p=13274"},"modified":"2025-12-12T11:52:49","modified_gmt":"2025-12-12T10:52:49","slug":"ports-in-the-offshore-wind-energy-sector","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ferrovial.com\/blog\/en\/2016\/03\/ports-in-the-offshore-wind-energy-sector\/","title":{"rendered":"The Role of Ports in the Offshore Wind Energy Sector"},"content":{"rendered":"

Since the construction of the first offshore wind farm<\/strong> (i.e. a wind farm in the sea at some distance from the coast) off the coast of Denmark in 1991, the offshore wind energy sector<\/strong> has grown enormously \u2013 driven mainly by northern European countries, and particularly the UK, Germany and Denmark \u2013 to become an important source of energy in today\u2019s world, with undeniable potential<\/strong> for the future.<\/p>\n

Up until the first half of 2015, 3,072 turbines had been connected to the European network, totalling 10.4 GW of installed capacity, thanks to the construction of 82 wind farms in 11 countries. A further 15 wind farms are currently being built, which will add 1.9 GW to the network. Although various factors have reduced the projected 40 GW of capacity which was to have been installed by 2020, annual investment in the sector, estimated at over 10 billion euros, nevertheless represents a volume such that it has become a strategic and priority business<\/strong> for large European companies, Ferrovial-Agroman<\/a> amongst them.<\/p>\n

To achieve the targets set by the industry, European ports have a critical role to play<\/strong> within the supply chain. Depending on the installation strategy adopted, the port may be used as a base for assembly, handling and\/or manufacture, but it will in all cases act as the supply chain hub, through which all components, structures and turbines making up the wind farm must pass. This means that the first step in the construction of a wind farm must be the selection of one or more base ports<\/strong> and, if necessary, the adaptation thereof as per the requirements of each particular project.
\nOver the life cycle of a wind farm project, the phases of manufacture, preinstallation, installation, commissioning, operation and maintenance, and eventually decommissioning, will in all cases require one or several port terminals with specific facilities for the different construction phases. The main companies in the supply chain will set up an operating base in the port, and the port terminal<\/strong> will thus become a hub for first tier logistics<\/strong>, and as such a key factor in the smooth running of the project.<\/p>\n

The port is therefore of critical strategic value<\/strong> for all stakeholders.<\/p>\n

The installation strategy<\/u><\/strong> used by the project developer will have a direct impact on the properties and facilities that manufacture and assembly port terminals must have, as well as on the type of port to be used. There are currently two different approaches based on the number and types of installation and transport vessels, and the level of assembly to be carried out in the port.<\/p>\n