Shore power supply seems to maintain its position as an attractive choice for European ports striving to lower their air pollution, with two European ports recently revealing plans to implement this solution for reducing emissions of ships at ports.
On 16 June, Bremen’s Senate resolved to create comprehensive additional shore power supply facilities at the ports of Bremen. The plans envisage eight stationary shore power supply units for maritime and two additional connections for inland shipping by 2023.
The creation of shore power connections for maritime shipping is another step forward and an important milestone in our endeavours to become a green, climate-neutral port. Accordingly, the electricity for these permanently installed shore power connections will come entirely from renewable energy sources,
…stated Dr Claudia Schilling, Senator for Science and Ports.
This follows detailed assessments by bremenports and the Fischereihafen operating company for suitable locations both in the Überseehafen area in Bremen itself and at Fischereihafen in Bremerhaven
As such, by the end of 2023, two shore power supply units will be installed for maritime shipping in the container throughput area in the city of Bremen, one in the ro-ro port area and one at the cruise terminal.
At Fischereihafen, there will be three facilities for government vessels and one for research shipping.
The new investment programme will create another two facilities for inland shipping at Bremen’s Industriehafen, so that all the relevant mooring points for river traffic will then be equipped with shore power connections.
The total investments for all ten new connections will amount to 32.4 million euros. Half of these will be funded by the Federal Land of Bremen, and the other half by the federal government on the basis of an administrative agreement to be signed between the federal and state governments.
At the same time, however, the Senator appealed to shipowners to operate more eco-friendly fleets on the whole. This involved retrofitting as many vessels as possible, as soon as possible, or commissioning new ships with the appropriate equipment for the use of shore power.
We can only achieve our goal of clean shipping if everyone involved makes a concerted effort. The more ports that provide shore power, the more cost effective it will be for the shipping companies to adapt their vessels…Ships spend most of their time at sea, so it is only logical that more attention has to be paid to the use of new, low-emission or emission-free propulsion systems to back up the measures in place at the ports,
…said Schilling.
See also:
- The benefits of shore power at Port of Vancouver
- Port of Marseille Fos to extend shore power
- Port of Kiel to accommodate Germany’s largest shore power system
Meanwhile, Norway’s Port of Flåm recently announced it has received a grant approval for offering locally produced hydropower to cruise ships while alongside.
Following an application to ENOVA in April 2020, the port will now receive 27 million. The actual cost of building OPS is estimated to 83 million. This amount also includes an underwater cable directly from the hydro power station in Aurland to Flåm.
The port estimates reducing cruise ship emissions by 75% in a few years.
Now we need to find a balance when it comes to the OPS facility and the opportunities it gives us. It now needs to be seen in context with the regulations for the World Heritage Fjords set by the Norwegian Maritime Authority and the Norwegian Parliaments decision to make the world heritage fjords emission free in 2026,
…said Tor Mikkel Tokvam – Port Director, Port of Flåm.
At the same time, the project will contribute to greater supply of electricity to Flåm. This will create an opportunity to electrify the entire destination across sectors.
