The European Commission has given the green light for partial public financing of berths 5-7 at the Port of Cuxhaven. The decision paves the way for the expansion of the German offshore industry hub, creating more space for both offshore and onshore wind industries. 

“The EU Commission’s approval of state aid for the financing of berths 5 to 7 is positive news that we are very pleased about. We have reached another milestone in this infrastructure project that is important for the energy transition. NPorts has a legal basis to use the funds promised by the federal and state governments,” explains Holger Banik, Managing Director of Niedersachsen Ports and JadeWeserPort Realisierungs.

Over the next few years, 38 hectares of additional heavy-duty logistics space will be created on the Elbe in Cuxhaven for handling and storing onshore and offshore wind turbines. The project is set to span 1,200 meters, with planned investments of €300 million. The state of Lower Saxony has pledged €100 million in state funds for the project. In spring 2024, the federal government approved contributing one-third of the construction costs.

The construction of berths 5 to 7 is being co-financed by the federal and state governments, which qualify as state aid under European competition law. The European Commission needs to approve the funds before they can be disbursed, as per the applicable regulations. On April 23, 2024, the Federal Republic of Germany and the State of Lower Saxony initiated the approval process by submitting an application.

A permit for the construction, the planning approval decision under water law, has been in place since February 20, 2020, NPorts said. The tendering and awarding of the construction work is currently underway, and construction is scheduled to begin in mid-February 2025. Contracts are currently being negotiated with future terminal operators, who will have to bear a further third of the investment costs.

The federal government’s expansion goals are driving the need for more space. By 2030, the current eight gigawatts of wind energy capacity will be increased to 30 gigawatts, followed by an expansion to 40 gigawatts by 2035 and 70 gigawatts by 2045. This translates to nearly quadrupling the offshore output and doubling the onshore output by 2030 compared to 2022.