The Port of Tomorrow
With the approval of the port expansion, the future holds the best opportunities for progress and development for Denmark and Danish businesses.
Yderhavnen is Approved
The Port of Aarhus was established in 1845. Since then, both the port area and Aarhus have developed side by side, with the port's size matching the growing needs of the city and Danish business.
Today, the Port of Aarhus is Denmark's largest commercial port. The total freight turnover has increased significantly in recent decades. In just the last 10 years, freight turnover has increased by 24 percent. However, for several years, the space has not kept up with demand. Therefore, in 2018, the Port of Aarhus applied for a port expansion – the establishment of Yderhavnen.
In 2023, a broad political majority in the Aarhus City Council approved a port expansion in Aarhus. This followed five years of processing our application, during which Aarhus Municipality initiated an extraordinary involvement of citizens, stakeholders, and experts.
The upcoming port expansion will be built gradually as needed and will consist of a total of 84 hectares of quayside port areas. Additionally, we will develop a so-called Dry Port west of Aarhus, which will serve as an efficient logistics center with buildings to ensure supply chains to the port's customers.
We have worked diligently to reduce both climate and environmental impacts in the port expansion project. This work continues. Among other things, we will offset one-to-one for the CO2 emissions generated by the construction of the expansion by 2030.
We will do this with new initiatives such as solar panels, shore power, energy symbiosis, and much more.
Room for More Biodiversity
Expanded port operations are not at odds with biodiversity and marine life. On the contrary, it provides a unique opportunity to improve the current condition.
In collaboration with the Danish Society for Nature Conservation, the Danish Angling Association, Aarhus University, and Aarhus Municipality, the Port of Aarhus has worked on the proposal Aarhus Blueline, which aims to increase biodiversity in Aarhus Bay by turning the upcoming pier into a nature and biodiversity area.
New urban spaces and marine environment initiatives
Aarhus Blueline will be gradually established in conjunction with the construction of the port expansion from 2028 onwards. In addition to building a winding pier, fishing bastions, lagoons, and a larger reef area, a new urban space will also be established, allowing the city's residents to get up close to both the port and the water.
In addition to Aarhus Blueline, in 2023, we worked on several marine environment initiatives – including the planting of eelgrass in Aarhus Bay.In collaboration with the University of Southern Denmark, we have launched a research-based eelgrass project aimed at increasing biodiversity in Aarhus Bay.
Over the next few years, researchers will investigate the potential for re-establishing eelgrass in Aarhus Bay while also gaining new knowledge about eelgrass and the possibilities for large-scale planting.
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Port of Aarhus establishes Jutland's largest dry port
Recognizing the need to optimize logistics and goods flow, the Port of Aarhus has taken an ambitious step towards the future with the establishment of Aarhus Dry Port. This strategically located logistics hub acts as a dry port, extending the port's reach and efficiency far beyond the coastline, and creating a seamless link between sea and land transport.
of the container transport in Danish ports comes through our port
Sustainability of the port
By implementing green technologies and solutions, we strive to minimize our environmental footprint while improving efficiency and quality of service for our customers and partners. From advanced energy systems to water treatment and waste management, every aspect of the expansion is thought to ensure we meet the highest standards of environmentally friendly operation.
We want to ensure biodiversity
The port's coastal management practices focus on protecting and restoring marine ecosystems. This may include actions such as re-establishing natural stream conditions and sediment dynamics, benefiting marine habitats and species.
