OWIC Eemshaven launched: innovation in offshore wind
Today, the Offshore Wind Innovation Centre (OWIC) opened in the Nijlicht building in the Dutch port of Eemshaven. OWIC Eemshaven is an information, training, and innovation center for companies and institutions involved in offshore wind energy generation.
A total of 19 parties - businesses, knowledge institutions and governments - have joined forces in OWIC To ensure that companies can innovate and develop in offshore wind energy more easily and quickly. The focus is on service and maintenance of the wind farms. OWIC aims to be the single point of contact for information and for making relevant contacts. In addition, OWIC will establish facilities for training and education in the field of offshore wind energy.
The need, importance, and scale of green energy—from wind and solar—are increasing. Offshore wind energy, in particular, will continue to grow in the coming years. Some of this will be generated off the Wadden Sea coast. These offshore wind farms not only need to be built but also maintained. This presents significant economic opportunities for (new) businesses, knowledge sharing, and innovation.
Strategic location
Eemshaven industrial estate is a strategic location for offshore wind energy. Here, the power generated from one of the world's largest offshore wind farms (Gemini Wind Park: 600 MW) comes ashore. Since 2009, Eemshaven has played a key role in the assembly and logistics of wind turbines and is now one of the most important offshore wind ports in the North Sea.
Wind turbine service port
Eemshaven has not only grown into a major base port for offshore wind logistics (Eemshaven has already been involved in the construction of 16 wind farms, and the 17th, Hornsea Two off the English coast, is currently underway), but also into a service port for wind turbine maintenance. Eemshaven handles maintenance for 316 wind turbines spread across four offshore wind farms. Due to its location, the entire existing supply chain, a helicopter take-off and landing pad, and the potential of many more planned wind turbines in the North Sea, Eemshaven is expected to further strengthen its strong position as a base and service port.
Research by the BLIX research agency shows that the wind farms above the Wadden Islands could generate at least 10 gigawatts of wind energy. This could create several thousand additional temporary jobs for Groningen during construction and several hundred permanent jobs once the turbines are operational.
By expanding the region's innovation capacity, OWIC aims to further enhance and capitalize on the opportunities offered by the construction and maintenance of these parks for businesses, knowledge institutions, and governments.
About OWIC Eemshaven
The Offshore Wind Innovation Centre (OWIC) in Eemshaven is an information, training, and innovation center focused on companies and knowledge institutions involved in offshore wind energy. OWIC's goal is to facilitate the development of business and innovation in the field of offshore wind energy. It brings together knowledge and experience and makes it accessible to government agencies, knowledge institutions, and the business community.
