In March 2024, the Freeport of Ventspils Authority has become a complete member of the largest European wind energy association, WindEurope. The organization unites more than 500 partners from 35 countries, supplying a worthwhile network of contacts throughout the wind energy project development chain.
Igors Udodovs, Deputy CEO of the Freeport of Ventspils: “We see WindEurope as a valuable possibility to establish long-term connections with the most extensive representative office of the wind energy industry in Europe, to find partners in sectors that are crucial for the development of the port, for instance, the construction of the infrastructure of the wind farm service port, the expansion of production prospects, generation and transmission industries of energy.”
WindEurope coordinates transnational politics, communication, research, and analysis, proposes information tools and campaigns to raise public awareness of wind energy, organizes events including meetings, exhibits, seminars, and workshops, and supplies a platform for contacts, as well as options for networking and the demonstration of the latest technology.
The association has more than 550 members from 35 countries, including “Enercon”, “GE Renewable Energy”, “Hitachi Energy”, “Latvenergo”, “Orsted”, “PNE”, “RWE”, “Shell New Energies”, “Siemens Energy”, “Van Oord”, “Vestas”, as well as ports of different cities across the world: Rønne, Bilbao, Amsterdam, Esbjerg, Klaipėda, and others.
Thanks to the geographical location of the port of Ventspils and the logistical prospects, Ventspils has great potential to become a significant base for the construction and support of offshore wind farms in the Baltic Sea. In collaboration with the Dutch company “Witteveen+Bos” which has experience in port construction, a study on the optimal solution for servicing offshore wind farms and related infrastructure in the port of Ventspils and a new port terminal has been modeled. It is essential for Ventspils to learn the examples of other representatives of the industry to realize the further goals of involvement in the renewable energy economy.