Author: Anja Fabricius Madsen

100% Danish produced and climate friendly power will in the future drive the activities at Port of Grenaa and cement the port's strong ambitions for the green transition. This is the result of a new supplier agreement that has just been signed with the NRGi Group.

Port of partnerships for a green world 2025

This is the strategic ambition of one of Denmark's major commercial and industrial ports, which is stepping up its efforts to contribute to Danish climate goals in a new green ten-year partnership agreement with NRGi. In future, the energy group will ensure that the port's operations are powered by green electricity from renewable sources, and in the longer term even supply locally produced power from newly established projects in the local area.

Shared ambitions for a greener world

"The world is changing and the Port of Grenaa is changing with it. It is both our desire and obligation to contribute to creating green growth and to promote sustainability wherever possible - internally and externally. Therefore, we are pleased to enter into an agreement with NRGi, who shares our ambitions for a greener world," explains Henrik Carstensen, CEO at Port of Grenaa.

"The Port of Grenaa works actively with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, and with this agreement, we have placed particular emphasis on the possibility of having a partner that can offer climate-friendly power and has the desire and ambition for a locally anchored collaboration in the long term," adds Kirsten Hvid Schmidt, CFO at Port of Grenaa.

Well in line with the NRGi Group's wishes

On the other side of the partnership, NRGi is pleased with the agreement, which fits well with the Group's desire to engage in a collaboration that not only supports but accelerates the green transition.

"We look forward to entering into a partnership where we can contribute to promoting the green transition locally in the area and in the longer term, that the cooperation contributes to producing more green power for the benefit of the entire energy system," says Jakob Bundgaard, CEO at NRGi Renewables.

"A ten-year agreement has been signed where NRGi will initially service the port with green power from NRGi's own wind turbines at Tagmarken in Thisted. The ambition is that Port of Grenaa contributes to the realisation of a future project by entering into a ten-year PPA (fixed price agreement). The agreement provides security of electricity billing on a project that will be established without subsidies and which will ultimately contribute with more green power in the East Jutland electricity grid to the benefit of us all", states Jakob Bundgaard.

About Port of Grenaa
Port of Grenaa is one of Denmark's largest commercial and industrial ports with a central location and plenty of room for development. Access to the sea is popularly what Port of Grenaa lives by. A proud hub in the centre of Denmark - the gateway to Kattegat.

About NRGi
NRGi is a champion and accelerator for the green transition in Denmark - and for a better future. NRGi is owned by 220,000 shareholders and consists of 1,500 dedicated employees, all contributing to a greener and more prosperous Denmark.

Port of Grenaa has achieved a turnover of DKK 60 million in 2020, which is exactly the same as the two record years 2018 and 2019. On the bottom line, the result for the year is DKK 9.2 million, which is above budget but below the record years.

At the annual general meeting of Port of Grenaa , the chairman of the board, Bent Hansen, expressed satisfaction with the year's results:

"We are proud that the positive development has continued despite Covid-19. Our bottom line is down, but that's because we heeded the authorities' call last spring to keep the wheels of society turning. We therefore dedicated part of our earnings to renovation projects and the digitalisation of systems and work processes. In doing so, we ensured that there was plenty of work to be done."

Port of Grenaa's CEO, Henrik Carstensen, shares the enthusiasm of the Chairman and the Board, and is particularly pleased with the many forward-looking investments the port has made in 2020:

"The port has, among other things, purchased a large electric mobile crane, established a new multi-purpose yard and three bulk bays. The most significant is undoubtedly the historic decision of the Board of Directors to invest up to DKK 100 million in a new "super quay". The new super quay and the associated backland area are tailored to handle large ships and rigs, including offshore installation vessels. And will be supplied with 18 MW of shore power. The area will also be dedicated to assisting the production of green energy forms such as Power-to-X.

Infrastructure is crucial for green growth

However, it was also a disappointed chairman who in his report expressed his annoyance that a motorway to Grenaa had not been included in the infrastructure negotiations. At the same time, Bent Hansen assured that the port's targeted work on infrastructure would continue:

"Port of Grenaa is growing, Stena Line is growing and Aarhus Airport is developing rapidly. Therefore, we appeal to politicians to prioritise and recognise Djursland as a driver of national growth. I can give many examples of this, but would highlight Stena Line's massive investment in their new Halmstad route related to moving heavy traffic off the E45/E20 and out to sea. The target is 30,000 additional truck trains on the new route. This will contribute positively to congestion on the aforementioned road sections and, not least, provide a somewhat better carbon footprint. But before this huge growth potential can be unlocked, we need an infrastructure that better links Djursland with the rest of Denmark."

New members of the Board

On the board of directors, 2021 has brought several changes to the board composition, as Port of Grenaa welcomes three new board members, Laura Hay, Lene Skovsgaard Sørensen and Jess Abildskou. Laura Hay is a former councilor for Technology and Environment in Aarhus Municipality and has many years of experience as a professional board member. Lene Skovsgaard Sørensen is CEO of the DWP System Supplier network and also has solid experience as a professional board member. Jess Abildskou has more than 20 years of experience from the transportation industry as owner and CEO of Abildskou A/S and as a board member of Orskov Yard. In addition, Jess Abildskou has been a board member of DI Transport for more than 10 years.

In addition to the aforementioned, the Board consists of Chairman Bent Hansen, Vice Chairman Lars Pedersen, Kasper Bjerregaard, Steen Jensen, Lars Møller and Anne Bjerrekær. Chairman Bent Hansen is looking forward to continuing the good cooperation and pursuing the new 2025 strategy of the Port of Grenaa with the management and the board.