A European epicenter for the green transition

“Esbjerg is without a doubt the most important energy hub for development right now, both in Denmark and Europe. For nearly 50 years, we were the Danish center for oil and gas, but Esbjerg has now transformed to focus on renewable energy. That’s why we already have 20 years of experience with offshore wind, and we are ready to leverage this experience as the green transformation gains momentum,” says Karsten Rieder, director of Business Esbjerg, explaining why Esbjerg is more relevant than ever for international companies.

From oil and gas extraction to sustainable solutions
“Much of the infrastructure and expertise accumulated in and around Esbjerg over the years from oil and gas extraction, and more recently offshore wind, can now be used to ensure Europe becoming energy self-sufficient—ideally with sustainable energy—and to develop sustainable solutions. In Esbjerg, we see interesting new initiatives like carbon capture and carbon storage from international companies like Total Energies and INEOS Energy, where CO2 will be collected and pumped into now-depleted oil fields.”

Thus, Esbjerg is no longer just an energy epicenter for Denmark. It is home to the world’s most important offshore wind port and Europe’s largest Power to X facility, set to be operational in 2024. This highlights Esbjerg’s role as a starting point for not only Danish but also global solutions to the energy and climate challenges we face.

“In Esbjerg, we have many international companies. Additionally, many local companies have a global outlook. So, our business activities in the area are very internationally oriented. Even though we have Esbjerg in our name, it’s always with an eye on global opportunities.”

The Esbjerg Declaration
“Esbjerg has been a key player in the energy sector for many years, but with the Esbjerg Declaration in 2022, things really took off. It’s the most ambitious plan to boost the green transformation on a European scale by creating a coherent infrastructure. The ambitions were formulated and signed here in Esbjerg with participation from our Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, other European leaders, energy ministers, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.”

“After that day, we clearly felt increased international attention. We’ve accompanied the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the US, among other places, to highlight the opportunities in how we approach the green transition here in Denmark.”

A growth adventure
“Esbjerg is looking at strong development and can embark on a significant growth journey if the EU invests as much in offshore wind as planned. Denmark—and especially Esbjerg—will play a key role. Currently, 13.5 gigawatts are projected (1GW equals the consumption of 1,000,000 households, ed.). These projects are primarily in the German and English parts of the North Sea but are shipped from Esbjerg.”

“In the PtX (Power to X) sector, Esbjerg could also play a decisive role, as Denmark and Germany are discussing creating a hydrogen pipeline from Esbjerg to Fredericia and further to Germany”, explains the director.

“Producing hydrogen in Denmark and exporting it to Germany could be a growth adventure. The Danish and German governments need to invest in the infrastructure because the volumes are so large that a pipeline infrastructure is required. For Esbjerg, this means that the green electricity comes in via Esbjerg and is used for hydrogen production, which is then exported to Germany. We already have an established and very large supply chain ready to realize these ambitions,” he explains, emphasizing that a third of all private jobs in Esbjerg are related to energy.

“It’s important that we move from national ambitions to action. The industry is now calling for hydrogen infrastructure. We need to quickly transition from visions and ambitions to taking the first steps so we can get started. We welcome national state support for the industry’s development. A CCS (carbon capture and storage) strategy has been launched, so good things are happening, but we need to move even faster to fully realize the international opportunities in Esbjerg,” concludes Karsten Rieder.