UK needs to support shore power in ports

Governments in Europe are helping their country’s ports deploy shore-power, with grants for investment and reductions in electricity taxes. However, shore power development in the UK is held back by high electricity taxes and a lack of Government support, said the report by the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research at the University of Manchester.

Tim Morris, CEO of the UK Major Ports Group (UKMPG), said: “We as industry know we have more to do, but Government has an essential enabling role to play. Government needs to back its ambition and targets with investment support and improvements to the energy system.”

Mark Simmonds, director of policy and external affairs for the British Ports Association (BPA), said “The industry is ambitious and committed to its role in supporting the reduction of emissions from ships and this report helps to demonstrate that there is clear role for Government here, too.”

Government actions

The report argues that barriers to shore power can be overcome with a central role for Government through an investment fund to support the development of shorepower projects by 2025; a consultation on reductions in electricity taxation for shore-power to allow it to compete fairly with marine diesel oil, as is the case in some competitor nations; a commitment to put in place a zero-emission regulatory standard for vessels in port; and a commitment to enabling wider port electrification and smart grids through changes to electricity network planning and regulation.

The imminent Transport Decarbonisation Plan is a big opportunity for the UK Government to rectify its lack of shore power support, stressed the UKMPG and BPA.

The British Ports Association published its own paper on shore power in 2020. It found that no ports in the world have installed shore power without public funding or subsidy and that a green maritime fund is needed in UK to support emissions reductions for ships at berth.