Denmark's Energy Metropolis by Business Esbjerg

PROFILE

“THE WIND INDUSTRY IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT INDUSTRIES IN DENMARK GENERATING THOUSANDS OF JOBS ”

DENMARK’S ENERGY METROPOLIS ESBJERG Birgit Bech Jensen

eing experts in handling the oil, gas and wind activities in the North Sea, Esbjerg companies have for many years contributed to its position as the offshore capital of Denmark and the newly achieved membership of World Energy Cities Partnership marks Esbjerg as one of the leading offshore cities in the world.

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Niels Duedahl CEO, SE and 2013 Leader of the Year in Denmark ” The strong electricity and fibre based infrastructure that we rolled out in the region and Esbjerg’s position as EnergyMetropolis arouse interest all over the world, and big companies look our way. This is a natural place for us to run our business” SE is one of the biggest energy and telecommunication providers in the country. Recently, the company built its brand new headquarters in Esbjerg in a spectacular plus energy house.

• 4 of the 5 GW wind power in the North Sea have been installed from Esbjerg • 14 %: The expected growth within offshore wind turbine in 8 years • In 2020, 5 times more offshore wind capacity installed “Having our headquarters elsewhere would not have resulted in 1,000 employees” Rambøll Oil & Gas would not have reached 1,000 employees if the company had not settled down close to the offshore sector in Esbjerg. “It has been crucial to the development of the company that our headquarter is located in Esbjerg. The clients are present in Esbjerg because the city is the closest they can get to the oil and gas installations in the North Sea. Furthermore, the port, traffic by sea and helicopter transport to the fields are also important factors,” John Sørensen, CEO, says. When Maersk Oil and Gas moved to Esbjerg in 1991, the Rambøll oil and gas division followed shortly. “Since then, an offshore cluster and knowledge environment have been built in Esbjerg and that is very important

Offshore expertise Though the oil and gas activities in the North Sea have existed since the 1970’s, this market still has potential. The trade organisation, Oil Gas Denmark, estimates that there are still unexplored oil and gas resources worth 25 bio€ in the North Sea. The status of the port of Esbjerg as leading harbour for handling offshore wind turbines has been indefeasible since the establishment of Horns Rev I and II. Horns Rev III is a new 400MW wind farm just outside the shores of Esbjerg. In 2017, installation will begin and this will generate further activities for Esbjerg companies. It is expected that the installed offshore wind capacity in 2020 will be five times the present level. Companies like Maersk Oil & Gas, Hess, Rambøll Oil & Gas, DONG Energy, Siemens, Vestas and Vattenfall are leading companies within the offshore activities. However, the company structure of Esbjerg is many small companies. Altogether, the city counts 250 largest heavy-duty transports allowed on energy companies – of which 177 are in the public roads. offshore industry alone. The wind industry is one of the most important industries in Denmark generating Intelligent energy thousands of jobs and the port of Esbjerg is Distributing and using energy intelligently is an important part of this industry and a vital the challenge of the future. In Esbjerg, one piece of infrastructure assisting both global of the leading electricity and telecommuni- and national companies developing their cation distributors in the country takes up business. this challenge and based on EU’s strongest Today, the port of Esbjerg is the largest fibre network, SE aims to contribute to transport in Denmark with an area of 4,000,000 forming the society towards sustainability. m2. With an area of 650,000 m2, the new east port is the largest port area in Denmark and Esbjerg among the 20 most important can handle offshore wind turbines and founenergy cities of the world dations. Once fully developed, the east port With oil, gas, wind, intelligent energy and will cover an area of 1,000,000 m2 and more bioenergy gathered at one place, the status than 2 km of heavy-duty quayside. of Esbjerg as Denmark’s EnergyMetropolis is confirmed. Consequently, Esbjerg Facts: was admitted in the World Energy Cities Partnership (WECP) gathering the 20 most • Esbjerg is Denmark’s fifth largest city. important energy cities in the world. Esbjerg • In Esbjerg, 250 companies employ more is the only Danish member city. than 13,500 people within the energy sector. Port of Esbjerg – the energy port • 75% of Danish wind turbine export Located in the south-westerly corner of pass through the port of Esbjerg. Denmark, facing the North Sea, the UK and • Esbjerg is the offshore capital of Denmark the western part of Europe, the port of Esbjerg and one of the leading offshore cities in the is an excellent choice if you want to connect world. Danish trade with Europe. With a fully • 5,5 billion €: Investments in the Danish developed hinterland infrastructure including offshore oil and gas sector during the next 5 road and rail, the port can accommodate the years

PROFILE

to our company. We can draw on each other’s knowledge and even though some of us are competitors, we are also business partners. In Esbjerg, we work closely with all our clients both the small suppliers and the big contractor companies – we are stronger together; that is the spirit in Esbjerg,” John Sørensen says. Rambøll employs about 350 people in Esbjerg. The oil and gas division alone has grown in recent years, which means that the division employs about 1,000 people in several countries. “Even though the supply of senior oil and gas engineers is limited, it has become easier for us to attract employees because of the strong business cluster in Esbjerg. We also have a great partnership with the two universities – mainly Aalborg University Esbjerg - where we recruit many newly graduated engineers. Overall, we benefit strongly from the many networks in the city; Esbjerg Petroleum Club, where everyone in the business is welcome, Esbjerg Business Development and the Management Societies. Additionally, we cooperate with Offshoreenergy.dk, who has its office in Esbjerg, and Oil Gas Denmark, who is quite often in Esbjerg,” John Sørensen says. J

Steen Brødbæk CEO, Semco Maritime

“We have experienced growth rates of 40% in 2011 and 2012. In 2012 alone, we hired 500 people in Denmark, most of them in Esbjerg.”

Bent Johansen Head of Renewables Wind Operations Denmark, Vattenfall “In Esbjerg, we find the manpower and the competences that we need to run our offshore wind farms.” Vattenfall is one of Europe’s biggest electricity producers. The company has its Danish wind power centre in Esbjerg. From this

Søren Nørgaard Thomsen CEO, ESVAGT

”Actually, we could run our business from any other port than Esbjerg, but we would fear to lose the spirit and culture of growth that exist in Esbjerg”. He continues, “In addition Danish mariners are highly skilled. They are known for their craftsmanship and they have a developed sense of business. They are proud of what they do. And that is the base of our company”.

Semco Maritime started as an ordinary

centre, Vattenfall supervises their Danish

electrician company but has developed

off- and onshore wind farms. Together with

and is now a global project engineering

DONG Energy, Vattenfall owns one of the

ESVAGT is a leading provider of offshore

company providing the global energy sec-

world’s biggest offshore wind farms, Horns

safety and support at sea primarily in and

tor with projects, solutions and manpower.

Rev, placed on the shores of Esbjerg.

around the North- and the Barents Sea.

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