The UK Chamber of Shipping is urging government to mandate green shore power, with new targets for ports and ships to ensure mainstream adoption by 2030.
This forms part of a 12-part mandatory regulatory framework being recommended by the industry body, to drive widespread adoption of shore power and other zero emission solutions at UK ports by 2030 at the latest.
Shore power provides electric charge points which can replenish battery-powered ships in port. It also allows crews to switch off engines while vessels are berthed.
Sarah Treseder, CEO of the UK Chamber of Shipping, said:
The UK is 20 years behind on shore power. Catching up now requires a clear and targeted regulatory framework to drive adoption across our fleets and ports. The government has shown it is prepared to back our industry in developing new solutions for our net zero transition. It must also act fast to back deployment of green solutions like shore power, which are already tried, tested and trusted.
The lack of availability of shore power in ports remains one of the major barriers to the technology’s uptake across the country. A recent survey of UK Chamber of Shipping members found 78% consider the lack of port infrastructure to be the biggest hurdle to implementation. Whereas 48% cited the cost of retrofitting existing fleets, and 43% pointed towards the lack of regulatory requirements.
The industry body also urges government to invest alongside industry to drive adoption of shore power in ports and ships, similar to how it has publicly invested in electric charging points for cars, and how other governments have supported industry in developing their own shore power facilities.
Ships that don’t plug into electric shore power technology at ports should also pay a compliance fine, according to the 12-point policy plan. And the proceeds should go towards establishing a new greenhouse gas fund, dedicated towards rolling out shore power across all UK ports and fleets.
The use of shore power in ports can contribute to a substantial cut in local air and noise pollution, and help deliver net zero by lowering ships’ emissions.
Research last year, commissioned by Maritime UK and produced by Dutch-based consultants, Royal HaskoningDHV, found the UK is significantly behind the rest of the world in developing shore power capabilities.
While the UK has only very recently opened two across its coast, last year the US had 10 shore power facilities, and the likes of Canada (5), Germany (4), Italy (3) and France (3) had multiple. And other EU member states including Norway (11), Sweden (8) Finland (3) and Denmark (3) are also ahead of the UK in shore power capabilities.
EXPLORE MORE AT UK CHAMBER OF SHIPPING’S POLICY PAPER
