The ports of the EU are to become transhipment points for renewable energies. Representatives of the industry are campaigning for this at the annual conference of the European Seaports Organisation.
According to the European Seaports Organization (ESPO), ports should contribute to the planned climate neutrality of the EU. “Ports are not only part of the problem, they are also part of the solution,” Espo chairman Zeno D’Agostino said in Bremen today.
Among other things, the ports contribute to the energy transition as importers, storekeepers and producers of energy, said D’Agostino. According to his assessment, ports will have to invest a lot of money in the future. By 2050, the EU wants to achieve climate neutrality with the “European Green Deal”.
The reason for the statements is the two-day annual conference of Espo in Bremen. Founded in 1993 and based in Brussels, the organization claims to represent the interests of port authorities, administrations and associations at EU level. According to the information provided, Espo members come from 22 EU countries and Norway.
Transshipment points for new fuels
“In order to decarbonize an industrial nation like Germany, we will have to import large, large amounts of energy in the future,” said Robert Howe, managing director of the Bremen port management company Bremenports.
According to Howe, Bremerhaven has some of the best conditions in the North Sea for a so-called energy port, which can also be used by ocean-going ships. The import of green hydrogen is possible via such a port.
The managing director of British shipping consultancy Drewry, Tim Power, said: “Ports are becoming hubs for new fuels.” In addition, they are essential for the offshore wind industry – for example for the construction of the systems and maintenance.
According to Eurostat, the most important ports in the EU in terms of the weight of goods handled in 2021 were: Rotterdam, Antwerp, Hamburg, Amsterdam and Algeciras (Spain). According to the statistics, the next most important German location after Hamburg is Bremerhaven.
Source: Stern
