Gothenburg Port Authority is to become a partner in Eolus’s Västvind offshore wind power project in order to fulfill its future energy demands.
The port’s own forecasts for future electricity consumption show a multi-fold increase in the need for power. The farm will be able to generate renewable electricity corresponding to the current electricity consumption of all of Gothenburg.
“The world’s major ports will become energy hubs and centres for the manufacture of hydrogen gas and e-fuel for maritime traffic. The Port of Gothenburg’s strategy is to lead the green transition of maritime traffic, but this position will not come about without some effort,” said Elvir Dzanic, CEO of the Gothenburg Port Authority.
“Access to green electricity will be entirely crucial for the port’s development and competitiveness. Investing in offshore wind power is therefore a strategic decision for us.”
Spiralling demand
There is already a severe deficit in electricity generation in the region, as countries are experiencing, and demand for electricity is expected to double by 2035.
“In this situation, we must do everything we can to ensure the port’s access to green electricity,” said Mr Dzanic.
The Västvind windfarm is planned to have an installed capacity of 1,000 MW, with the potential to generate 4 to 4.5 TWh of renewable electricity per year.
“Västvind could play a key role in western Sweden’s ambitions of becoming northern Europe’s centre for the electric vehicles and battery manufacture of the future and the world’s most climate-smart port logistics,” said Per Witalisson, CEO of Eolus.
”Access to green electricity is a decisive issue in this regard. In practice, offshore wind power is the only source of energy that can contribute such large amounts of new electricity generation in the timeframe up until 2035.”
The partnership means that Gothenburg Port Authority will acquire 5% of the shares in the project company that owns Västvind and Eolus will remain as the owner of 95%.
Eolus plans to submit the permit application for the Västvind windfarm with the accompanying environmental impact assessment to the Land and Environment Court and the Government in 2023. Start of construction is planned for 2027 with completion for 2029.
