Wind energy has become a mainstream technology in the production of electricity and plays a central role in energy policy and energy strategies in an ever increasing number of countries around the world. This is in part due to technology progress and economic competitiveness in many markets. Wind turbine generators can generate electricity in any climate zone, offshore and in any onshore location (coast, inland, mountains).

Wind energy has some obvious benefits: It is unlimited, freely available, and environmentally sound. Renewable energies are growing increasingly important in light of the serious consequences of climate change. Europeans are in the lead here, and one of the largest projects was started in Cuxhaven a few years ago.

In addition to the core sectors of port management, logistics, tourism, and the fish and food industry, wind energy clearly is a key industry for the Cuxhaven economic region. As a high-performance port location, Cuxhaven plays a central role in the value chain of offshore wind energy.

The state of Lower Saxony, the EU, and Cuxhavener Hafen Entwicklungsgesellschaft have invested more than 250 million euros in the port and onshore infrastructure of the Deutsches Offshore-Industrie-Zentrum Cuxhaven since 2006. The offshore industry’s investment in production facilities reached EUR 390 million by 2018.

In addition to its central location for the offshore wind farms in the North Sea, the Deutsches Offshore-Industrie-Zentrum presents its offshore and heavy-duty terminals right on the Elbe coastline, a multi-functional port, heavy-duty storage and logistics areas as well as RoRo ramps, and a 500-tonne gantry crane. Industrial and commercial sites near the port, a high level of maritime expertise and comprehensive measures in the area of professional qualification ensure an optimal basic structure for port and offshore industry activities at the Cuxhaven location.