Spotlight on ports: Powering offshore wind

Over the past three decades, Ørsted has helped develop and shape the port infrastructure needed to support offshore wind projects around the world, including in Europe, Asia, and North America.

Ørsted’s Harbour Development Engineer Carsten Agerbaek says ports are a critical part of the offshore wind ecosystem.

“They’re where planning turns into action - where turbines, foundations, and other key components as well as vessels all come together before heading offshore.”
From the earliest stages of construction through to decades of operations and maintenance, ports are the hubs where turbines, foundations and other components arrive and are assembled, while highly specialised vessels mobilise before heading out to sea.

Not every port is suited to the scale and complexity of offshore wind. Installation ports require vast laydown areas, heavy-lift capabilities, deep-water access, and carefully designed logistics to handle some of the largest infrastructure components in the energy industry.

Further, offshore wind requires unique port infrastructure. Turbine blades can be more than 100 metres in length, foundations can weigh thousands of tonnes, and installation vessels need large staging areas to safely assemble and load components.

Success relies on working closely with port owners, operators, and governments to ensure port facilities are designed for purpose and ready for the demands of a rapidly growing industry.

Ørsted has over many years developed deep insights into how ports must be designed and upgraded for the future by collaborating with turbine manufacturers and in-house engineering and design teams.

The Port of Belfast in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom.

In Northern Ireland, the Port of Belfast was transformed into a major installation hub supporting Ørsted’s multiple projects in the Irish Sea. Between 2011 and 2017, the port provided dedicated space for marshalling and loading turbine and foundation components used in several major projects.

The Port of Taichung in Taiwan.

In Taiwan, Ørsted helped guide the development of offshore wind installation facilities within the Port of Taichung. Operational since 2021, the port was developed with input from Ørsted on behalf of the wider industry and supports the assembly and load-out of turbine and foundation components.

The New London State Pier.

In the United States, Ørsted collaborated with the Connecticut Port Authority to redevelop New London State Pier into a purpose-built offshore wind installation hub. Completed in 2023, the upgraded terminal includes strengthened quays and large staging areas designed for turbine assembly and load-out.

“Developing offshore wind projects often means developing entirely new supply chains. Ports are typically one of the first pieces of infrastructure that need to adapt to support the scale and complexity of the industry and can play an important role in creating skilled jobs and supporting training opportunities,” says Carsten.