Offshore wind port
{{short description|Port facility used to support construction and operation of an offshore wind project}}
File:Esbjerg havn 20140802 10 (15955295666).jpg ships at Esbjerg offshore wind port]]
An offshore wind port describes several distinct types of port facilities that are used to support manufacturing, construction and operation of an offshore wind power project. Offshore wind turbine components are larger than onshore wind components. Handling of such large components requires special equipment. Transporting of components between manufacturing and assembling facilities is to be minimized. As a result, a number of offshore wind port facilities have been built in areas with a high concentration of offshore wind developments.{{cite book |title=Supply chain, port infrastructure and logistics study for offshore wind farm development in Gujarat and Tamil Nadu |date=June 2016 |url=https://www.gwec.net/wp-content/uploads/vip/Fowind-study-report_29-06-2016_pages_JWG-update_v2.pdf |access-date=29 April 2022}} For large offshore wind farm projects, some offshore wind ports have become strategic hubs of the industry's supply chain.{{cite book |title=U.S. Offshore Wind Port Readiness |date=16 October 2013 |publisher=Garrad Hassan America |url=https://www1.eere.energy.gov/wind/pdfs/wind_offshore_port_readiness.pdf |access-date=29 April 2022}}
The Port of Esbjerg in Denmark is considered the world's largest offshore wind port.{{cite book |title=Annual report Port of Esbjerg 2018 |date=2018 |url=https://portesbjerg.dk/sites/default/files/eh_arsberetning_2018_en_web.pdf |access-date=29 April 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.projectcargojournal.com/ports-and-terminals/2022/01/04/components-for-4000-offshore-wind-turbines-pass-through-port-of-esbjerg/|title=Components for 4,000 offshore wind turbines pass through Port of Esbjerg|website=Project Cargo Journal}}
Types
File:Xiang Rui Kou (51516207479).jpg and tripod foundations on heavy-lift ship]]
File:Wind turbine (xndr).jpgs require much space for assembly and transport]]
File:Ring crane wind turbine shoreline assembly.webp doing shoreline assembly of an offshore wind turbinehttps://www.offshore-mag.com/renewable-energy/article/55090860/mammoet-building-crane-for-construction-of-larger-wind-turbines]]
=Small oceanic ports=
These are small port facilities to launch survey vessels used in an early stage of an offshore wind farm development.{{cite journal |last1=Parkison |first1=Sara B. |last2=Kempton |first2=Willett |title=Marshaling ports required to meet US policy targets for offshore wind power |journal=Energy Policy |date=April 2022 |volume=163 |pages=112817 |doi=10.1016/j.enpol.2022.112817 |s2cid=246922755 |doi-access=free }}
=Manufacturing ports=
Large offshore wind turbine components are difficult to transport over land. Locating a manufacturing facility at a port is more desirable. Subcomponents and materials may be brought through roads or railways. After components are built, they are typically shipped to a marshaling port for the final assembly.
=Marshaling ports=
=Operating and maintenance ports=
By region
=Europe=
The six leading offshore wind ports in Europe service wind farms in the North Sea. Their respective countries signed the Ejsberg Declaration in 2022 in which they agreed to coordinate supply chain activities to optimize the manufacture and delivery of wind turbine components.{{cite web|url = https://renews.biz/83232/european-ports-join-forces-to-boost-offshore-wind-rollout/| website = renews.biz | publisher = | title = European ports join forces to boost offshore wind rollout | date = 18 January 2023 | accessdate = 28 February 2023 }}{{Cite web|url=https://ocean-energyresources.com/2023/01/19/six-european-wind-ports-signed-mutual-declaration/|title=Six European wind ports signed mutual declaration|date=January 19, 2023|website=Ocean Energy Resources}}
- Port of Esbjerg, (DK), the world's largest offshore wind port
- Port of Ostend, (BE){{cite report | url = https://proceedings.windeurope.org/biplatform/rails/active_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--79bcf4d8154e803b5edb5e0b448a38acd5559c1a/WindEurope-2030-Vision-for-European-Offshore-Wind-Ports.pdf?content_type=application%2Fpdf&disposition=inline%3B+filename%3D%22WindEurope-2030-Vision-for-European-Offshore-Wind-Ports.pdf%22%3B+filename%2A%3DUTF-8%27%27WindEurope-2030-Vision-for-European-Offshore-Wind-Ports.pdf | title = A 2030 Vision for European Offshore Wind Ports - Trends and opportunities | publisher = WindEurope | date = May 2021 }}
- Groningen Seaports/Eemshaven, (NL)
- Niedersachsen Ports/Cuxhaven, (DE)
- Nantes/Saint-Nazaire, (FR)
- Humber/Port of Hull (UK){{cite web|url = https://www.offshorewind.biz/2022/09/29/european-offshore-wind-ports-ally-to-mitigate-port-capacity-issues-brought-by-higher-2030-targets/ | website = offshorewind.biz | title = European Offshore Wind Ports Ally to Mitigate Port Capacity Issues Brought by Higher 2030 Targets | date = 29 September 2022 | accessdate = 28 February 2023}}{{cite web|url = https://www.investmentmonitor.ai/features/is-the-wind-still-in-hulls-sails/ | website = investmentmonitor.ai| title = Is the wind still in Hull's sails? | date = 11 March 2021 | accessdate = 28 February 2023 }}
File:Turbine components and barge at New London, December 2024.JPG
=United States=
As of 2021, offshore wind power in the United States was described as a "burgeoning" industry.{{Cite web|url=https://www.spglobal.com/commodityinsights/pt/market-insights/latest-news/energy-transition/122721-feature-burgeoning-us-offshore-wind-industry-will-hit-important-milestones-in-2022|title=FEATURE: Burgeoning US offshore wind industry will hit important milestones in 2022|first=Jared|last=Anderson|date=December 27, 2021|website=www.spglobal.com}} At that time, a number of ports were proposing to build or convert facilities to handle the large components needed to build potential offshore wind farms.{{cite web |last1=Ford |first1=Neil |title=US port spend brings offshore wind factories closer |url=https://www.reutersevents.com/renewables/wind/us-port-spend-brings-offshore-wind-factories-closer |website=www.reutersevents.com |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210627214008/https://www.reutersevents.com/renewables/wind/us-port-spend-brings-offshore-wind-factories-closer |archive-date=June 27, 2021 |date=May 19, 2021 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |last1=Lewis |first1=Michelle |title=Ørsted is going big on US offshore wind and this is what it needs to succeed |url=https://electrek.co/2021/10/21/orsted-is-going-big-on-us-offshore-wind-and-this-is-what-it-needs-to-succeed/ |website=Electrek |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20211022090948/https://electrek.co/2021/10/21/orsted-is-going-big-on-us-offshore-wind-and-this-is-what-it-needs-to-succeed/ |archive-date=October 22, 2021 |date=October 21, 2021 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |last1=Lewis |first1=Michelle |title=The US is getting its first offshore wind blade factory |url=https://electrek.co/2021/10/25/siemens-gamesa-us-first-offshore-wind-blade-factory/ |website=Electrek |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20211026000419/https://electrek.co/2021/10/25/siemens-gamesa-us-first-offshore-wind-blade-factory/ |archive-date=October 26, 2021 |date=October 25, 2021 |url-status=live}} Among those on the East Coast, from north to south are:
- Salem Harbor (MA){{Cite web|url=https://www.offshorewind.biz/2022/10/31/three-us-ports-secure-federal-financing-for-offshore-wind-projects/|title=Three US Ports Secure Federal Financing for Offshore Wind Projects|first=Adnan|last=Durakovic|date=October 31, 2022|website=offshoreWIND.biz}}
- Port of New Bedford (MA)
- Brayton Point Commerce Center/Mount Hope Bay (MA){{Cite web|url=https://commonwealthmagazine.org/energy/brayton-point-finally-lands-offshore-wind-supplier/|title=Brayton Point finally lands offshore wind supplier|first=Bruce|last=Mohl|date=February 16, 2022}}
- Port of Providence (RI){{Cite web|url=https://www.provport.com/provport/news.html|title=Latest News - ProvPort|website=www.provport.com}}{{nonspecific|date=February 2023}}
- State Pier, Port of New London (CT){{cite web |title = State Pier Infrastructure Improvement Project |publisher = Connecticut Port Authority |year = |url = https://statepiernewlondon.com/ |access-date = December 10, 2022}}{{Cite web |title=Port of New London critical component of Offshore Wind Industry Cluster |url=https://www.theday.com/op-ed/20220226/port-of-new-london-critical-component-of-offshore-wind-industry-cluster/ |access-date=2022-11-05 |website=www.theday.com |language=en-US}}
- South Brooklyn Marine Terminal (NY)https://www.offshorewind.biz/2024/06/11/new-york-citys-offshore-wind-terminal-under-construction/
- Arthur Kill Terminal (NY)https://www.rechargenews.com/wind/largest-us-private-offshore-wind-port-advances-with-key-new-york-city-approval/2-1-1661736
- Port of Paulsboro (NJ)https://breakbulk.com/articles/paulsboro-terminal-handles-monopiles-us-wind
- New Jersey Wind Port, the "first offshore wind port" in the United States, which broke ground in late 2021{{Cite web|url=https://www.offshorewind.biz/2021/09/10/americas-first-offshore-wind-port-breaks-ground/|title = America's First Offshore Wind Port Breaks Ground|date = September 10, 2021 | website = offshorewind.biz }}
- Port of Baltimore (MD){{Cite web|url=https://www.professionalmariner.com/east-coast-ports-gear-up-for-offshore-wind-development/|title = East Coast ports gear up for offshore wind development | website = professionalmariner.com | date = August 1, 2021 }} - Sparrows Point
- Portsmouth Marine Terminal (VA){{cite web| url = https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/first-offshore-wind-turbine-blade-facility-to-be-in-virginia-port| title = First U.S. Offshore Wind Blade Facility Will be Built in Virginia | date = October 25, 2021 | website = maritime-executive.com }}