Publicatiedatum: 15-07-2026
Auteur: Sascha Collée
Every offshore wind farm starts onshore. Ports are playing an increasingly important role in the European energy transition, as they are the hubs for the new energy infrastructure. At the same time, many projects are being held back by limited space, grid capacity and permitting procedures. REDIII is intended to help accelerate the development of renewable energy and the infrastructure needed to support it.
What is REDIII?
REDIII is the revised European Renewable Energy Directive. The directive raises the European target for renewable energy to at least 42.5% by 2030. To achieve this target, the EU is not only looking at the generation of renewable energy, but also at how the development of new energy projects can be accelerated.
An important part of REDIII is the acceleration of permitting procedures for renewable energy projects and the related infrastructure. For transport, the directive also places a stronger focus on reducing emissions across the full value chain. This means looking at total emissions throughout the entire chain, from production and transport to the final use of the fuel. In doing so, REDIII encourages the development of alternative energy and fuel chains, such as hydrogen and methanol.
Why does REDIII affect ports in particular?
A large part of the European energy transition comes together in port areas. Offshore wind farms, hydrogen production, electricity connections and new fuel chains all require large-scale infrastructure that is directly connected to the sea, industry and logistics networks. Because of their access to international trade routes and connections with the hinterland, ports are gaining a central role in Europe’s future energy system.
This role of ports is not only relevant for making the maritime sector more sustainable, but also for broader European interests around energy security, industrial competitiveness and geopolitical independence. New energy carriers will largely be imported, stored and further distributed through port areas towards industry and transport. In this way, ports are becoming increasingly important in the development of new energy chains in Europe.
Permits as the bottleneck
The energy transition requires speed. In practice, however, many projects get delayed during implementation. Offshore wind, hydrogen infrastructure and new energy connections often require extensive permitting procedures. This is especially complex in port areas, where new projects need to be fitted in between existing industry, shipping activities, nature areas and residential environments. As a result, projects that are important for the energy transition can still face years of delay.
With REDIII, the European Union aims to speed up this process. The directive does not remove nature protection, but it does ensure that renewable energy projects carry more weight in permitting procedures. In doing so, the EU aims to make it easier to get sustainable energy projects off the ground more quickly and with less uncertainty. At the same time, finding the right balance between energy, economy and nature remains a challenge.
Emissions across the entire supply chain
In addition to permitting, the directive also changes the way sustainability within transport is assessed. REDIII does not only look at how much renewable energy is used, but also at emissions across the full value chain. This means it is not only about the fuel being used, but also about how it is produced, transported and applied.
For the maritime sector, this is important because shipping cannot easily be fully electrified. Especially for long distances and heavy cargo flows, other solutions remain necessary. This is why attention is increasingly turning to fuels such as hydrogen, methanol and other e-fuels.
Here too, ports come into focus. Many of these fuels will be imported, stored and further transported through port areas towards industry and transport. This means ports also play an important role in the development of sustainable marine fuels.
From European developments to the Dutch competitive position
REDIII does not affect every port in the same way. Some ports will focus more strongly on offshore wind, while others will focus more on hydrogen imports or alternative bunker fuels. As a result, competition is increasing. Ports are trying to attract investments, infrastructure and new energy flows.
The Netherlands has a strong starting position in this context. With the Port of Rotterdam, a large industrial base and a favourable location on the North Sea, the Netherlands has much to offer to continue playing an important role. The development of offshore wind also strengthens this position. A large part of future renewable energy production will take place in the North Sea, where Dutch ports can play an important role in construction, maintenance and grid connection.
Competition and a level playing field
A strong starting position, however, is no guarantee of success. Across Europe, ports are investing in infrastructure for offshore wind, hydrogen and alternative fuels. Companies are not only looking at location or existing infrastructure, but also at speed, costs and clarity. Ports that can facilitate projects more quickly and have strong connections with industry and the hinterland are becoming more attractive.
The Netherlands is already under pressure in this regard. Rotterdam recently lost its position as Europe’s largest bunker port to Antwerp. Several parties in the Dutch bunker and port sector are warning about growing price differences with neighbouring countries. If fuel prices or sustainability rules differ too much between countries, ships and companies may choose to move to other ports.
Developments around bunkering show that sustainability and competitiveness are closely connected. A level playing field within Europe is therefore important. Without such a level playing field, there is a risk that sustainability measures could create a competitive disadvantage for ports that move faster or apply stricter sustainability standards.
The challenge for the Netherlands
The biggest challenge for Dutch ports does not lie in ambition, but in execution. New energy supply chains require physical space, sufficient grid capacity and permits that are granted on time. The Netherlands is under pressure in all these areas. Grid congestion, nitrogen constraints and spatial limitations are making it increasingly difficult to realise new energy projects quickly.
This is important because companies and investors do not only look at ambitions on paper. They also look at whether projects can actually be realised. If hydrogen terminals, grid expansions or other energy infrastructure take too long to materialise, investments may also move to other port areas. For Dutch ports, it is therefore becoming increasingly important to provide clarity more quickly on prioritisation of projects. This requires better coordination between ports, grid operators, governments and industry. It must also become clearer which energy chains the Netherlands truly wants to attract and further develop.
Conclusion
REDIII shows that the energy transition is not only about generating renewable energy, but also about the speed at which new energy infrastructure can be realised. For ports, this is becoming more and more important, as they play a major role in offshore wind, hydrogen, alternative fuels and the connection with industry in the hinterland.
For the Netherlands, this creates both opportunities and risks. Its starting position is strong, but competition is increasing and implementation is under pressure. The question is therefore not only what role Dutch ports can play in the energy transition, but above all whether the Netherlands can move quickly enough to maintain that role.
What role does Venturn play?
At Venturn, we monitor developments that affect ports and the maritime sector. We also keep a close eye on REDIII and its impact on Dutch ports. In doing so, we do not only look at what is changing in the regulatory landscape, but especially at what these changes mean for companies in practice.
We do this in direct contact with clients and other stakeholders in the sector. Our project teams, consisting of professionals from Venturn and Venturn Young Professionals, assess both the theoretical and practical impact of these developments. In this way, we identify where opportunities arise, which risks require attention and which choices are needed to make plans truly feasible.
We help organisations gain control over changes in the maritime sector. We do so by thinking along about concrete steps, collaboration and implementation. This way, we support companies in making use of new opportunities and strengthening their position in a sector that is constantly evolving.