Offshore Energy Hub

The seaports in North Holland and the offshore energy sector in the North Sea have a long history. It is therefore natural that the ports and regions of Amsterdam, Den Helder and IJmuiden and the Province of North Holland have joined forces to position North Holland as the Offshore Energy Hub of the Netherlands.

The collaboration offers the opportunity to play a major role in the energy transition – a development that has many opportunities and challenges. The market for offshore energy is growing faster than the capacity of the individual ports in the Netherlands. Collaboration is essential to continue to meet the energy demand of the future and to attract and retain companies and staff.

Together, the ports and regions focus on creating added value for customers and promoting shared interests as part of the overarching Offshore Energy Hub.

Right place, right time

We believe that sustainable development starts with cooperation and partnership. The fact that the demand for sustainable energy is increasing faster than the capacity of the individual ports is the basis for the cooperation between the ports and regions of Amsterdam, Den Helder and IJmuiden. Our strategic location stimulates, among other things, the further development of offshore energy in the North Sea.

With our access to a legion of knowledge institutes and well-trained people at all levels, we achieve improvements in various areas every day. We achieve this based on years of experience in offshore and the development of high-quality, professional solutions. We keep each other sharp and involve the right partners in all our activities. In this way, we guarantee optimum speed, safety and efficiency.

The region as a global infrastructure hub is very active. In this way, we attract people and companies with the right (offshore) mentality. Even more important is our excellent location: current and future wind farms are within easy reach by water and air and Schiphol Airport connects us to the rest of the world. Our position is further strengthened by Den Helder Airport, the specialized offshore mainport and the third largest heliport in Northwest Europe.

And these are just some of the reasons why so many well-known international companies – from IT and technology to manufacturing – have chosen to establish themselves in our region.

Strategic location

The proximity to wind farms in the North Sea and the European hinterland guarantees excellent accessibility and cost and time savings.

  • Specialist network
    • Collaboration is always nearby
  • Space for business
    • For smart companies and innovations in new energy
  • The right staff
    • An attractive working environment for highly educated staff with a dynamic work attitude
  • Training & education
    • Access to education and training facilities for a range of skills and capacities, both theoretical and practical.

Who are the North Holland seaports?

 

Port of Amsterdam

The offshore industry is important to Port of Amsterdam. The location, space, expertise and infrastructure make the port region perfect for offshore activities. The Amsterdam region accommodates numerous experienced players and offers sufficient space in the port region for offshore activities in the field of sustainable energy, oil & gas, and repairs and decommissioning. In combination with a favourable geographical location in relation to the North Sea and excellent connections to the hinterland, this makes Amsterdam an important player in the offshore sector.

The largest offshore wind farms will be built off the coast of the Amsterdam region in the coming decades. This makes Offshore Wind a huge growth market for the region. Port of Amsterdam offers companies in wind energy a range of possibilities and opportunities; from production and installation to operation & maintenance.

Port of Den Helder

Port of Den Helder is the pit stop port for logistics services and maintenance in offshore in the southern part of the North Sea. The port has been a popular base for business activities and maintenance for more than forty years thanks to its high-quality and fast services, extensive logistics infrastructure and heliport services. The port is easily accessible in all weather conditions thanks to a sheltered connection to the North Sea.

The facilities and services in the port and surrounding area guarantee fast, efficient turnaround times. In addition, the many offshore service providers present in the region offer transport and logistical support at the highest level. Port of Den Helder also serves as a home base for the Royal Netherlands Navy.

The region around the port is home to various high-quality (maritime) suppliers, knowledge institutions, data centres and training institutes. Den Helder is centrally located in relation to the centre of the Offshore Wind locations in the North Sea – Dutch, British, Danish and German wind farms are all within reach.

Zeehaven IJmuiden

Zeehaven IJmuiden is the ideal base for the maintenance of wind farms off the Dutch coast for many reasons. The port is located on the open sea and on the delta of the North Sea Canal, and is accessible 24 hours a day with depths of up to 11 metres and without restrictions. There are special areas and facilities with the most advanced piers and moorings for operators and owners of offshore wind farms. The port also has excellent connections to the inland waterway and road network and to Schiphol Airport. The port has access to a range of industrial expertise and suppliers and, equally important, dedicated staff and support from local authorities.

A brand new Energy Port is currently being developed in the former Averijhaven. This is a crucial development in the context of the large increase in wind farms in the North Sea that will be constructed in the near future. The Energy Port will serve as a base for the construction and maintenance of these wind farms.

Zeehaven IJmuiden has been facilitating offshore wind farms in the North Sea since 2006, such as OWEZ Egmond, Princess Amalia Park, Luchterduinen, Hollandse Kust (south) and Hollandse Kust (north).

Energy Port

The dredging depot in the former Averijhaven near IJmuiden is being developed into an Energy Port. Much needed, because in the coming years more and more wind farms will be built in the North Sea and the Energy Port is an important base for the construction and maintenance. We initiated research in 2015 and have been closely involved in the further development of the plan since then.

Crucial location of the North Sea Canal area

The Energy Port is located on the seaward side of the North Sea Canal, just before the IJmuiden locks. The new site offers great opportunities to respond to the energy transition and to important regional and national climate goals. With this strategic location, the newly developed port is crucial for, among other things, the construction of offshore wind farms in the North Sea, which will take off in the coming years. The Energy Port strengthens the position of the North Sea Canal area as the Dutch centre for Wind at Sea.’

Co-initiator of the energy transition report

In partnership with Tata Steel, Port of IJmuiden NV and Port of Amsterdam, AYOP commissioned Buck Consultants International to perform a quick scan for a sustainable energy transition in the North Sea Canal region. Published in 2015, the Strengthening the Offshore Wind Energy cluster in the North Sea Canal region report led to a joint vision for the continued development of the offshore wind energy cluster. It also helped convince stakeholders of the former Averijhaven port to develop the strategically situated Energy Port, and give offshore wind a key role. The covenant partners were also persuaded of the timing and urgency. AYOP acted as a main ‘consultant’ to the stakeholders using our in-depth knowledge of offshore wind in this process.

Convenant Partners

The lobby by various parties, including AYOP, resulted in a conventant between the government and industry. The Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, the Province of North Holland, Velsen municipality, Tata Steel, Port of IJmuiden NV and Port of Amsterdam came to an agreement in April 2020 that the Averijhaven port near IJmuiden would be transformed into the new Energy Port. Although there are still many steps to be taken this was a significant first step for the AYOP members.

Interestingly, the five covenant partners include four AYOP members. They meet with relevant partners and stakeholders, enabling them to promote the interests of the offshore industry and our members. Moreover, the members Port of Amsterdam and Port of IJmuiden will operate the Energy Port on behalf of the other covenant partners.

Energy Port: The Offshore Port

The Energy Port will have a surface area of more than 15 hectares and will be a multifunctional port terminal. Both the premises of the current Averijhaven port and the adjacent five-hectare lot owned by Tata Steel will be used to create a public port area that includes a 580-metre quay, consisting of 200 metres of heavy-duty with a depth of 12.5 metres and 380 metres of standard quay (depth: 10.0 metres). The port’s location will allow it to play a major role in the (cost-)efficient construction and maintenance of (future) wind farms.