Rotterdam incentivises low-emission port operations

Rotterdam’s Carbonbid tender targets emissions from port operations by compensating initiatives that deliver the greatest greenhouse gas reductions at the lowest cost within the port area.

“A great deal of attention is always paid to CO2 reduction by industry, but logistics companies and all kinds of service providers also have emissions,” said Boudewijn Siemons, CEO of the Port of Rotterdam Authority.

“We aim to use Carbonbid to persuade those parties to become more sustainable where necessary. Doing this through a tendering process will reduce the most CO2 at the lowest cost.”

Encouraging participation

The emissions incentive scheme is deliberately limited to projects that reduce port emissions within the Rotterdam port area.

Activities already covered by the European emissions trading system are excluded and a cap is applied per project to ensure broad participation across port operations.

The Carbonbid tender followed a multi-stage assessment process. After an initial eligibility review, expert panels evaluated feasibility before EY verified the measurability of projected CO2e reductions.

Each of the eight projects have been selected to receive a combined €3.5 million over four years, delivering a total reduction of 575,000 tonnes of CO2e, equivalent to an average cost of €6 per tonne.

Winning projects span a wide range of operational activities, including replacing diesel-powered automated guided vehicles and reach stackers with electric alternatives, deploying mobile shore power, introducing mobile ship degassing and converting inland vessels to battery-electric propulsion.

Other initiatives include hull cleaning services and the processing of contaminated harbour sludge into raw materials.

Following the allocation of the full €3.5 million budget, the port authority is considering a further Carbonbid round, reflecting growing momentum to reduce emissions across port operations.