Posters
Come meet the poster presenters to ask them questions and discuss their work
We would like to invite you to come and see the posters at our upcoming conference. The posters will showcase a diverse range of research topics, and will give delegates an opportunity to engage with the authors and learn more about their work. Whether you are a seasoned researcher or simply curious about the latest developments in your field, we believe that the posters will offer something of interest to everyone. So please join us at the conference and take advantage of this opportunity to learn and engage with your peers in industry and the academic community.
PO493: Ports as bottlenecks or enablers? Engineering requirements for Baltic–Nordic Offshore Wind Expansion (2025–2035)
Enrika Uusitalo, Business Development Baltic Offshore Wind, Sarens NV
Abstract
The Baltic–Nordic offshore wind pipeline (2025–2035) is rapidly advancing, with developers planning projects that shows desired turbine growth up to 25 MW. Yet such sizes are not currently available from OEMs, raising serious concerns for regional ports that must prepare infrastructure ahead of the market. Technical survey results from 17 internationally operating developers confirm that ports face decisive bottlenecks: quay depth requirements of 12–14 m, ground bearing capacity up to 40 t/m², and yard availability of ~0.4 ha per turbine set. The scale of adaptation requires investment levels of €100–300 million per port, underlining the urgency for strategic planning. This PhD-based research combines survey data, engineering modelling, and expert interviews (BMW, AIVP, Sarens), using the Port of Raahe (Finland) as a cold-climate case study. Findings demonstrate that reinforced quays, frost-resistant pavements, and de-icing systems are essential for reliable operations in sub-Arctic conditions. Electrification must be underpinned by MW-scale substations and modular buffering to integrate electric SGC cranes, e-SPMT fleets, and hydrogen pilots. Beyond technical readiness, circularity pathways—such as recycling decommissioned turbine steel into SSAB’s green steel, show how ports can advance from bottlenecks into strategic enablers of industrial ecosystems. By synthesising developer expectations, engineering feasibility, and governance perspectives, this research offers actionable guidance for Baltic–Nordic ports and replicable lessons for other cold-climate hubs worldwide.
No recording available for this poster.
