While most attention is focused on the imposing offshore wind turbines, an equally important part of the energy transition is taking place in Eemshaven. There, Buss Terminal Eemshaven has been working steadily for years on something big - literally and figuratively.
It is a typical example of a company with an important role for the region that you actually hear far too little about. After all, Buss Terminal Eemshaven is an important logistics base for many large wind farms in the North Sea area. And with an investment of millions, that role should soon become even bigger and more important. High time, then, for an introduction. 'For us, Eemshaven is a unique place and truly the center of energy transition. Not only because of the location, but especially because of the joint drive.'
Buss Terminal Eemshaven has been the logistics base harbor for nearly 20 large wind farms in the North Sea area since 2011. For example, the company is involved in the largest wind farms in Denmark and Germany and handles the storage, transshipment and pre-assembly of large components for the offshore wind farms. Those various parts are picked up by an installation ship and brought to the site where the wind farm is being built. An important role, therefore, not only for energy transition, but also for the competitive position of Eemshaven.
Strategic location
Buss Group is originally a German company and operates in several ports in the North Sea region. The choice for a terminal in Eemshaven in 2011 was quickly made, according to Marc Wegman, managing director of Buss Terminal Eemshaven. 'We have a direct and open connection with the North Sea here. So ships do not have to pass through locks first, as is the case at some other ports. In northern Germany you also have ports with a direct sea connection, but they are further away from the wind farms, so that makes Eemshaven a very strategic location for us.'
And the direct connection to the North Sea will only become more important in the coming years, according to Wegman. 'The generating capacity of wind turbines is increasing. In the beginning it was once 3 megawatts, but the large manufacturers are now already above 20 megawatts. So the top of a wind turbine is getting heavier, and so is everything below it.'
You really notice the mindset is to attract circular and renewable energy companies.
Marc Wegman managing director Buss Terminal Eemshaven
Larger ships and heavier components
Of course, this means that the ships that have to transport all these components are also getting bigger and heavier. 'By now the ships are already so big and the components so big and heavy that the direct sea connection and a terminal weighted for that purpose is the only option. That in itself is of course good news for us, but at the same time it also means that we have to ensure that we can continue to serve our customers in the years to come. To do that, we need to strengthen our quay in Julianahaven and improve the bottom, so that we can also cope with the increasing demand for capacity.'
The current capacity of the Buss quay in Julianahaven is 6 to 20 tons per square meter. 'The new part of the quay will have a capacity of 40 tons per square meter and this will make us one of the first ports with this capacity,' Wegman continued. 'With this, we have ample margins in the components that are going to come in the next few years and we are well prepared for the future. Of course, this first requires a large investment, which must also be earned back at the bottom of the line, so that was also the reason for us to look for external funding. We are very happy with the confidence of all parties involved.
Eemshaven ecosystem
'For us, Eemshaven is a unique place and really the center of the energy transition,' says Wegman. 'Not only because of the location, but especially because of the collective drive. You only have to look out the window here to see the LNG Terminal and RWE working on hydrogen and sustainability, and you also really notice that the mindset is to attract circular and renewable energy companies.'
'As a company, you quickly tend to look only at yourself and your own site, but the most important lesson you quickly learn here is to also include your surroundings as much as possible in the decisions you make,' Wegman continues. 'We have a large group of companies here and you don't want to get in their way with the construction of the reinforcement of the quay, so we are also doing everything we can to cause as little inconvenience as possible.'
People work
But behind all these impressive projects lies above all the craftsmanship of the people on the quay. 'We can come up with all kinds of things here in the office for the projects and everything we do around the projects at the terminal, but ultimately it's about our people who stand on the quay day in and day out and in all weathers,' Wegman continues. 'Because believe me, the rain can sometimes fall horizontally from the sky here in Eemshaven. I am also really proud of the culture of innovation and safety that we have here within our company, with driven people who think along in everything and initiate things from the shop floor.' According to him, this is also the reason why absenteeism and turnover are extremely low. 'Our people are the most important thing, and fortunately they know that,' he adds.
'That employees are central is also always our starting point, rather than just looking at margins,' says Wegman. 'We obviously take on material that has tremendous value to our customers, and if a ship is on the dock for a long time, then the costs can also add up quickly. But if there is something that causes delays, we will never tell our people to work faster, because otherwise it will cost us too much money. If it can't be done safely, then just take a little longer and that's what it is. Your biggest asset is not your equipment, it's your people. You have to take good care of those and that's something you should never lose sight of.'
MILLION DOLLAR INVESTMENT
The joint funding comes from Groningen Seaports, Rabobank, the Groninger Groeifonds and NOM, with an additional CINEA EU grant. 'Although NOM is known for its involvement in startup and scale-up companies, we are also happy to commit to established and innovative SMEs,' says Betty Postma, investment manager at NOM. 'Buss Terminal Eemshaven is an excellent example. The company has built up an impressive customer portfolio and is already involved in the realization of more than 10 offshore wind farms. With this investment, Buss Terminal Eemshaven as a base harbor can make its contribution to accelerating the energy transition. The strong cooperation between all investors has made this capital-intensive investment possible.'
'With the ground improvement and the reinforcement of the quay at Julianahaven, Eemshaven will soon have two so-called heavy-duty areas,' says Erik Bertholet, business manager logistics & offshore wind at Groningen Seaports. 'With the new quay, Buss will soon be able to serve two ships at the same time, thus making a major contribution to the positioning of Eemshaven in the offshore wind sector, so that was also the reason for us to co-finance.'
'Due to its strategic location, Buss is an important but often underexposed link in the energy transition,' said Johannes Offringa, senior account manager for large business at Rabobank. 'We have been working closely with Buss for many years and have been able to help them with various financial decisions. We are therefore pleased that we can once again contribute to this important step for the future, with NOM and the Groninger Groeifonds willing to take on the final part of the investment.'
The fact that Buss is an important link in the offshore wind sector was also an important reason for the Groninger Growth Fund to co-finance the project. 'With this investment, we as Groninger Groeifonds can make an important contribution to the regional economy,' says Gijs Vermeer, investment manager of the Groninger Groeifonds. 'And in addition, this allows us to safeguard the strategic position of Eemshaven for offshore wind energy also in the future.'