According to the Danish renewable energy industry association Green Power Denmark, Danish politics should quickly translate the recommendations from the Danish government's port partnership into a strategy that supports the role of commercial ports in the green transition, such as the expansion of offshore wind turbines and the development of green fuels for shipping. The following article is a summary of articles published on this subject on the Green Power Denmark website. (Photo: Sculpture group in the port of Esjberg - Denmark)
Green Power Denmark, together with the rest of the port partnership, has handed over its recommendations to the government, which established the partnership last year. The green business organisation is calling on politicians to draw up a strategy for the Danish commercial ports as soon as possible, based on the recommendations.
"Ports are central to achieving our climate ambitions. Few commercial ports in this country, for example, are sized to handle the blades and foundations of wind turbines that are growing in size. If we don't invest in ports, we risk them becoming a bottleneck for the massive expansion of wind energy that the whole world needs to embark on."
Hylleberg stresses that these are not recommendations to be filed away, but rather political action, so that commercial ports are ready for the green transition and competitiveness can be strengthened. Danish ports are in a fierce battle with our neighbouring countries over activities related to the expansion of offshore wind turbines in Europe. It is therefore important that both the [Danish] State and the municipalities recognise the importance of the ports in ensuring a large part of the growth, prosperity and jobs that come with the green transition.
Faster processing of cases and the right paths
According to Green Power Denmark, one of the partnership's key recommendations is that the processing of port development projects by authorities should be much faster than is currently the case.
It can take up to six years to get permission to expand shipping routes. That is not possible. Slow processing of cases undermines the pace of the green transition, the development of ports and the competitiveness of companies. The risk is that investments and jobs will disappear from Denmark, says Jan Hylleberg.
He also emphasises the partnership’s recommendations to extend the road network to the ports, and that the ports will have good opportunities to extend their area and build berths with a load-bearing capacity that can meet future needs such as larger foundations for wind turbines. Green Power Denmark calls for these recommendations to be followed up by a port pool and funding to extend the roads to, for example, the Port of Esbjerg, where both citizens and businesses are currently experiencing concrete challenges.
Ports as hubs for green fuels
One of the industries that benefits greatly from being present in ports are facilities that will produce green Power-to-X fuels for shipping. But the Port Act does not allow this, and according to the port partnership, this needs to be changed.
"With our wind resources and our strong green industry, Denmark has every opportunity to become a leader in the production of green fuels for heavy transport. Here, Danish commercial ports will be hubs for the production and distribution of sustainable fuels for shipping," says Jan Hylleberg and continues:
“Investments in Power-to-X facilities in Danish ports require space and rapid approvals. It is absolutely crucial that we prioritize this in light of municipal and other planning constraints that limit the ability to meet the expected need for green fuels.”
Port Partnership
Danish ports play an important role in the infrastructure for Power-to-X, a crucial technology for achieving Denmark’s climate targets and replacing black fuels with green fuels in fossil-heavy sectors such as shipping. The [Danish] Port Partnership recommends changes to the Ports Act that could increase access to ports for technologies related to the Power-to-X industry. These are outlined in the article: ‘Danish ports are important hubs for the development of green fuels for shipping’ .
Power-to-X
Power-to-X is one of the industries in the green sector that can benefit greatly from being located in a port. Here, shipping is connected to the land and its infrastructure, and in the future, ships will be refueled via ports with green fuels such as e-methanol and e-ammonia.
However, a new report from the Port Partnership points out that the Port Act does not contain guidelines for dealing with green fuels and CO2, which could drive investments in, for example, Power-to-X in Danish commercial ports.
As part of the Port Partnership, Green Power Denmark has been actively working to ensure that ports can support the development of a Power-to-X industry.
"Ports have always been a hub for the energy sector. However, it is crucial that the regulation is forward-looking and moves with the times so that we can support the development of ports and their important role in the green transition of the transport sector. The shipping of the future is green, and ports are a logical location for the development of green fuels so that production can take place close to the ships that will use them. Therefore, we hope that the recommendations will be taken into account in the upcoming port strategy," says Michael Madsen, Head of Power-to-X and Export at Green Power Denmark.
"The shipping of the future is green, and ports are a logical location for the development of green fuels so that production can take place close to the ships that will use them. We therefore hope that the recommendations will be taken into account in the upcoming port strategy."
A technology neutral scheme
It is already possible to realise temporary storage in [Danish] port areas for e.g. PtX fuels, CCS or other green technologies in connection with embarkation and disembarkation, while the actual production, e.g. of PtX fuels, belongs in the port's service area.
Until now, activities related to the wind turbine industry were permitted in the Port Act. A green industry that has brought large export revenues and jobs to the Danish commercial ports.
But in the energy system of tomorrow, ports are increasingly also a hub for other green technologies that are absolutely central to the green transition.
In the future, the Port Act should therefore be technology neutral, according to the Port Partnership recommendation, which paves the way for including green technologies such as PtX in the categorisation of port activities when there is a need for embarkation and disembarkation.
In this way, the port areas can also be used for the production of PtX – to the benefit of both the port and the many affiliated companies.
“There can be many advantages to locating PtX production in a port. These can include close access to renewable energy, biogenic CO2, the district heating network, water and, last but not least, the consumers of green fuels. In addition, the ports already have experience in handling fossil fuels – experience that can be widely transferred to PtX, says Michael Madsen.
He stresses that it is the market that must decide in which parts of the country PtX production should be built. But it is crucial that the regulation moves with the times and supports the other national climate initiatives, Green Power Denmark believes.
“Investments in green fuels and Power-to-X facilities in Danish ports require space, approvals and long-term perspectives. In order to meet the expected need for green fuel production, it is therefore important that port areas relevant for PtX can be used by those players who want to contribute to the transition of shipping by producing green fuels,” he says.
The recommendations of the port partnership will now be incorporated into the government's preparation of a strategy for Danish ports that will provide a basis for securing commercial investment.
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