Representatives from Spain’s main ports involved in the development of offshore wind agreed this week on the need to decisively accelerate the deployment of offshore wind energy. The discussions took place during WindEurope, at a meeting held at the Navantia Seanergies stand under the title Spanish Ports for Offshore Wind.
The debate was opened by Carla Chawla, Director of Navantia’s Fene shipyard, who stressed the importance of minimising risk for developers and highlighted the role of ports as an essential industrial complement. In particular, she pointed to their large assembly areas, greater draught and proximity to offshore wind farms, factors that are crucial in reducing logistics costs and ensuring projects are delivered on schedule.
The panel also included Martín Fernández (Port of A Coruña), Francisco Barea (Port of Ferrol–San Cibrao), Santiago J. Castellà Surribas (Port of Tarragona), Rubén Ibáñez Bordonau (Port of Castellón) and Beatriz Calzada Ojeda (Port of Las Palmas).
Infrastructure critical to project viability
During the session, speakers analysed the role of ports as strategic industrial and logistics hubs across the entire offshore wind value chain, from the assembly of large components and systems integration to the operation and maintenance of offshore wind farms — all key factors in ensuring the viability of offshore projects.
The discussion also highlighted the contribution of port infrastructure to reducing the carbon footprint of offshore wind projects, by enabling shorter logistics chains, optimised transport and more efficient and sustainable operational planning.
Port representatives outlined the projects they are currently developing to equip their facilities with capabilities tailored to offshore wind, including large operational areas, suitable draughts, efficient access and load-bearing capacity appropriate to the size and weight of components. In this context, they agreed on the need to move towards stable investment frameworks that provide certainty in the medium and long term.
The meeting also underlined the importance of strengthening coordination between port authorities, industry, developers and public administrations, in order to anticipate the sector’s future needs and support its orderly growth.
This session forms part of the ongoing work carried out by Navantia Seanergies as an industrial player in the offshore wind value chain, aimed at fostering dialogue between industry, ports and public authorities and contributing to the development of a more competitive, resilient offshore sector aligned with energy transition and decarbonisation objectives.