Groningen Seaports’ Eemshaven: A Modern Energy Hub

Celebrating 50 years, Eemshaven operated by Groningen Seaports, is a major energy hub for the Netherlands. The port produces about a third of all energy consumed in the Netherlands, and has an installed capacity of 8,000 MW. [caption id="attachment_37582" align="alignleft" width="655"] Aerial view of Eemshaven port with storage tanks and offshore wind[/caption] Established in 1973, the port is built into the sea – or at least that’s how business manager for offshore wind, Erik Bertholet describes it. ‘We’re a rare sea port, without a city attached,’ he says. ‘The port was initially built into the sea, but it’s now a World Heritage site, so we cannot expand outwards – we have to look inland.’ ‘There was a lot of unemployment in the 70s, so the idea was to create a port to boost the economy and jobs in the area,’ continues Bertholet. Given the lack of city infrastructure, the port has come up with several initiatives to encourage employment in the new millennium. This include a shuttle bus to take employees directly to and from Groningen – the port’s closest major city.   Renewable Infrastructure Now specialising in offshore wind, Eemshaven port...