Wind energy and Bremen are the perfect match. From the infancy of commercial wind energy production to the gigantic offshore projects of today, Bremen-based companies have driven the industry forward. The winds of change are strong here.
Wind energy is a crucial element of the switch to renewable energy sources. By 2017, wind energy capacity on land and at sea had reached 55 gigawatts in Germany. The existing capacity is to be tripled by 2030 in the offshore sector alone, while more and more new wind farms are also being built onshore. But more effort must be put into this expansion if the switch to renewable energies is to be a success.
The state of Bremen will play its part in this. More than one hundred companies employing 4,000 people have set up operations in Bremen and Bremerhaven and they represent all parts of the industry’s value chain. This is where wind farms are designed, huge nacelles are manufactured, heavy components are transshipped and workers are trained.
Big? Heavy? No problem for Bremen’s ports
The port facilities in Bremen and Bremerhaven are an important link for many wind energy producers. They specialise in large loads, also known as break-bulk. Bremerhaven currently has three specialised quays that can handle even the largest nacelles, blades and towers, and there are plans to add a fourth quay in the future. These include the Labradorhafen port, the ABC peninsula and the container terminal. The Bremerhaven offshore terminal, which will provide infrastructure specially tailored to the offshore industry, is also currently being planned.
Plenty of space for wind energy
Wind energy expertise is well distributed across the two cities. Bremerhaven is home to a deep-water port suitable for seagoing vessels, and is a transshipment hub for large components and a production site for wind turbines. The city has extensive warehouses, quays, commercial premises, and testing and research facilities, and provides ample space for companies to set up new operations. The Luneplate development, for example, offers 250 hectares of commercial land right by the heavy-lift ports.
The city of Bremen is home to many suppliers, planning offices, project planners and service providers. The Airport-Stadt Bremen business park is located right by the international airport and is only eleven minutes from the city centre. Here, numerous companies make use of the generous office space available and the proximity to other branches of industry, such as the aerospace sector. Überseestadt is another attractive location where wind energy companies benefit from being in close proximity to each other.
Service providers and project planners such as the wpd Group, REETEC and Energiekontor operate from Bremen. They are joined by many smaller companies, including industrial climbing specialists Rope Access Solutions and insurers Nordwest Assekuranzmakler.
