On 9th July, the webinar “Readiness of ports to support the ORE transition - an Atlantic Strategy perspective”, organized by the Irish and Spanish National Hubs, brought together over 50 participants and featured insights from leading voices in energy, transport, and port management.
The webinar, aligned with Atlantic Strategy Pillars I and III - focusing on ports as gateways for the blue economy and marine renewable energy - highlighted the diverse approaches being taken by Atlantic Member States to prepare their ports for the ORE revolution.
Key Outcomes and Insights
Ireland showcased its strategic planning for 2050, emphasizing fixed offshore wind development on the East Coast and floating wind on the Atlantic Coast. This readiness stems from comprehensive surveys and realistic goal-setting.
Spain’s Port of Bilbao impressed with its Community Renewable Energy Model, integrating offshore wind, rooftop solar, hydrogen, biofuels, and energy storage. This “Living Lab” approach has fostered cross-sector collaboration and innovation.
France promoted a diversified energy strategy under the motto “Offshore wind, but not only,” with the Port of Brest leading efforts in broadening renewable energy integration.
Portugal reaffirmed its leadership in floating offshore wind, with expectations of increased capacity following the October 2025 Offshore Wind Energy auction.
A shared sentiment among the speakers was the urgent need to safeguard project development through national and EU funding, and to modernize policy frameworks to keep pace with technological advancements.
Next Steps
The webinar concluded with a call to embrace diversified approaches to ORE readiness, tailored to the Atlantic’s unique weather and tidal conditions.
As part of the Pillar III 2024–2026 roadmap, the organizers plan to invite contributors to the OES-Environmental 2024 State of the Science Report to a future taskforce meeting, aiming to deepen discussions on environmental impacts and biodiversity protection.
This webinar marks a significant step in fostering collaboration across Atlantic ports and setting the stage for a resilient and sustainable energy future.