Port of Aalborg has developed into one of Northern Europe’s most important ports for the wind industry. Activity levels linked to the wind sector continue to grow year on year, and today nearly 60 per cent of the port’s approximately five million square metres of commercial land is allocated to the production, testing and storage of large components, particularly for offshore wind.
This development is also reflected in quay activity, where cargo volumes related to offshore wind components increased by as much as 45 percent in 2025. This marks a new record and is welcomed by Kristian Thulesen Dahl, CEO of Port of Aalborg.
“This is extremely positive and partly reflects the fact that Aalborg is home to some very strong players in the wind sector, and partly that we are highly skilled and continuously invest in our ability to facilitate and service these companies. This enables us to meet their specific requirements in terms of available space, load-bearing capacity and logistics,” says Kristian Thulesen Dahl.
A significant share of cargo activity in 2025 was linked to CS WIND Offshore’s completion and shipment of 176 wind turbine foundations – so-called transition pieces – for the large US offshore wind project Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind.
In addition, three offshore converter stations for the same project were shipped from Aalborg. CS WIND Offshore has also shipped two offshore converter stations with associated foundations from Aalborg to the Baltic Power offshore wind farm off the coast of Poland.
“Aalborg is a strong location where production, logistics and shipping operate smoothly and efficiently. 2025 was a special year for us with the completion of several major projects, providing a solid starting point for 2026. We are currently upgrading our load-out area at the port so that we can work on the completion and shipment of even more foundations simultaneously. We are doing this because the location, the cooperation with Port of Aalborg and their solution-oriented approach work extremely well and are of great benefit to both our customers and us,” says Søren Schlott Mikkelsen, Chief Operating Officer at CS WIND Offshore in Aalborg.
New European direction may strengthen the wind industry in Aalborg
The positive development in offshore wind cargo at Port of Aalborg coincides with a period in which the European wind industry, on the one hand, is characterised by political uncertainty in key markets such as the United States and increased competition, particularly from Chinese players.
On the other hand, there is growing political focus on energy security and security of supply, combined with a desire to support the European wind industry. Recently, the European Commission presented a proposal stipulating that up to 70 percent of components for publicly subsidised wind farms must be produced in Europe.
However, if the European wind industry is to strengthen its competitiveness while also delivering on the upcoming expansion of offshore wind capacity, larger port facilities and more physical space for offshore wind activities are required. This is highlighted in the EU’s new ports strategy, presented in early March.
“This plays directly to our strengths. We are among the most scalable wind energy industry ports in Europe, with frameworks that allow us to quickly offer land for production, storage and expansion. That makes us a very attractive hub for companies throughout the value chain. For example, we have 1.4 million square metres of quay-adjacent land that we can prepare and bring into use in the relatively short term,” says Kristian Thulesen Dahl, adding:
“We are, of course, aware that the wind industry is likely to remain subject to fluctuations and a degree of uncertainty in the coming years. However, our strength lies in having both the space and the robustness to stay the course, enabling us to attract companies and jobs while supporting the green transition,” he says.
In 2025, Port of Aalborg handed over a 400,000-square-metre site to Siemens Gamesa, which is being used for the storage of offshore wind turbine blades. The port is also well underway with a major quay expansion, scheduled for completion in 2027, which will, among other things, enable an expansion of quay-adjacent commercial areas suitable for use by the wind industry.
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