In the past, ships lacked the necessary electrical infrastructure to utilise shore power, but this trend is shifting.<\/p>\n
Nowadays, an increasing number of new ships are being equipped with shore power connections and older vessels are being retrofitted with this technology.<\/p>\n
Additionally, with advancements in energy storage and power electronics, batteries are emerging as alternative maritime fuels, much like electric vehicles.<\/p>\n
However, the widespread adoption of these solutions faces challenges such as the need for standardised approaches and suitable business models.<\/p>\n
Strengths<\/strong><\/p>\n The use of shore power offers consistent environmental benefits in terms of air pollution, surpassing regulatory requirements and alternative solutions.<\/p>\n By way of example, an analysis based on China\u2019s Dalian Port revealed potential environmental benefits amounting to $128 million by implementing shore power facilities. If all ships adopted shore power in China, it could lead to substantial reductions in SO2, NOx, and CO2 emissions, improving air quality.<\/p>\n However, there are still challenges to address in the use of shore power, such as potential ship delays that can increase carbon emissions due to increased ship speed.<\/p>\n Nevertheless, it is believed that operational improvements and technological advancements can mitigate these shortcomings in a short period of time.<\/p>\n Weaknesses<\/strong><\/p>\n At the national level, secure financing options and financial support are crucial, with standards playing a role in facilitating financing.<\/p>\n The main financial challenge for both charging station owners and vessel owners\/operators arises from the substantial investment costs associated with electrical infrastructure.<\/p>\n Many emphasise the need for financial support or cost sharing to address these challenges. Some examples include ferries receiving funding for a portion of their costs and companies sharing the establishment costs of required grids.<\/p>\n Retrofitting existing vessels is more expensive than integrating equipment in newbuilds, but vessel lifespans pose additional considerations.<\/p>\n There is uncertainty regarding electricity prices versus fuel prices complicates return on investment calculations for battery-propelled vessels.<\/p>\n Determining who should bear the costs of individual projects also remains unclear.<\/p>\n At the national level, challenges include power availability, ownership of charging infrastructure, unclear responsibilities, irregular usage and station availability.<\/p>\n On an individual project level, challenges arise from interaction with others, the risk of vandalism and the need for customised solutions.<\/p>\n The fundamental question of who owns the charging stations, how investment costs are distributed, and achieving profitability remains.<\/p>\n Discussions have also highlighted several challenges related to regulations.<\/p>\n Power availability and responsibility for providing have been emphasised as crucial issues. Ports face limitations in recouping costs for charging infrastructure due to restrictions on charging extra for electricity.<\/p>\n The technology aspect also presents several challenges, many of which are international in nature and require attention at a global level.<\/p>\n Key challenges include issues related to the charging interface, such as water level considerations, galvanic corrosion risks, lack of standards, time limitations at the berth, offshore charging requirements and the need for safe handling.<\/p>\n The lack of standards, especially for DC charging in the marine context, is a significant technical challenge. Existing standards provide limited guidance on charging station properties and compatibility at different ports, leaving infrastructure decisions to investors and system providers.<\/p>\n Having standards that specify solutions would be beneficial in overcoming these technical challenges.<\/p>\n Tackling standardisation<\/strong><\/p>\n The lack of consistent charging standards at a global level can be attributed to the diverse range of battery sizes and power needs associated with charging these vessels. This variation presents a challenge in developing standardised charging protocols for the maritime sector.<\/p>\n The existing technical standards for shore charging equipment in the marine context do not adequately address important issues. These issues, such as the lack of marine certification for the charging standard CCS-2, the absence of standards for marine DC charging and mooring, must be considered by international standard committees.<\/p>\n Limited knowledge exists regarding the design of earthing connections and galvanic corrosion protection for electric DC supply, which may result in significant costs for charging station and ship owners.<\/p>\n A joint working group, including organisations like IEC, ISO, IEEE, ABB and port authorities, is currently developing standards for shore connections, particularly for DC charging, to ensure interoperability between ports. However, the process is slow and it may take several years to establish a new standard, with limitations on adopting proprietary connectors into international standards.<\/p>\n Achieving global standardization for shore-to-ship power charging demands a harmonious effort and synchronization among diverse stakeholders.<\/p>\n One example of the type of collaboration needed is the HYPOBATT (Hyper powered vessel battery charging system) initiative, which is a collaborative European project that brings together 18 key players in the maritime sector.<\/p>\n The project focuses on developing a fast-charging system for ships and demonstrating its effectiveness at selected locations. The initial focus is on electrifying the ferry service between Norddeich and Norderney in North Germany.<\/p>\n Additionally, the project seeks to standardise the fast-charging system for ferries and develop new business models for battery-powered boats, with the goal of making electric ferry operations safer, faster, and more sustainable in other locations in the future.<\/p>\n Spanning 42 months and receiving \u20ac9.35 million of funding under the HORIZON 2020 initiative, this project represents a significant step towards advancing the electrification of ships across Europe.<\/p>\n Overcoming capacity and grid problems<\/strong><\/p>\n In the pursuit of efficient shore power systems, various alternatives have been explored beyond the conventional direct connection to the port\u2019s grid. These alternatives include in-port battery storage, hydrogen energy storage with subsequent conversion to electrical energy, methanol energy storage with conversion to electrical energy and the utilisation of diesel, HVO, or DME as in-port energy storage with subsequent conversion to electrical energy.<\/p>\n The effectiveness and sustainability of these alternative systems are heavily influenced by the specific methods employed to deliver and store the energy resources at the port, ensuring their readiness for use. Both economic considerations and environmental performance play crucial roles in determining the viability of these shore power solutions.<\/p>\n To address the challenges of fluctuating energy supply and ensure stable and cost-effective electricity provision, an effective solution lies in the establishment of a microgrid within the port premises. By integrating renewable energy sources, such as solar panels or tidal power, with energy storage systems, the port can effectively manage the variability in energy production and consumption.<\/p>\n This approach not only allows for greater control over electricity prices but also enhances the port\u2019s resilience by providing a reliable and sustainable source of power. This is particularly useful as the world switches to electricity and the demand for electricity rises exponentially.<\/p>\n By approaching the implementation of shore-to-ship power with meticulous planning and strategic foresight, the challenges associated with this transition can be effectively surmounted.<\/p>\n Future outlook<\/strong><\/p>\n In the realm of port operations, electrification stands as a pivotal force, intertwining with the rising tide of alternative fuels.<\/p>\n Its role is multifaceted, encompassing the provision of hybrid solutions, facilitating infrastructure compatibility, bridging the transitional phase, fostering energy diversity and securing a sustainable path forward.<\/p>\n PTR Inc recognises the indispensability of both electrification and alternative fuels as interconnected elements within the maritime industry\u2019s energy transition.<\/p>\n Their harmonious interplay contributes not only to the curtailment of emissions but also to the enhancement of air quality, forging a path towards a future characterised by sustainability and resiliency.<\/p>\n \u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026..<\/p>\n The \u2018Nexigen, Quality for the Air, Quality for the Port\u2019 project aims to enhance the air quality in Barcelona\u2019s port and city, staying true to its name.<\/p>\n This will be accomplished by implementing Onshore Power Supply (OPS) technology, establishing an electrical connection between the quay and the docked ships. Through this connection, ships will be able to switch off their auxiliary engines while berthed, significantly reducing the emission of NOx and CO2 by 38%.<\/p>\n To make this vision a reality, the electrification of the docks is imperative. This intricate process entails various infrastructural components, including the provision of 100% renewable energy from an electrical substation through a 220 kV high voltage line.<\/p>\n Additionally, the installation of 240 kilometres of underground cables and the construction of 20.5 kilometres of pipes from the substation to the docks are necessary.<\/p>\n By electrifying the docks, the Port of Barcelona is taking a crucial step towards achieving its more ambitious objective, to become a climate-neutral port by 2050.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The industry is transforming to meet the growing demand for emissions reduction. One significant advancement is shore power, writes Hafsa Shafiq, analyst, PTR Inc.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":3469,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[46],"tags":[1121,148,120,1119,179,1120],"sponsor":[],"class_list":["post-3468","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-energy-technology-greenport","tag-electrical-infrastructure","tag-energy","tag-europe","tag-ptr-inc","tag-shore-power","tag-vessel-charging"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3468","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3468"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3468\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3470,"href":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3468\/revisions\/3470"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3469"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3468"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3468"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3468"},{"taxonomy":"sponsor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.portstrategy.com\/greenport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/sponsor?post=3468"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Case study: Port of Barcelona<\/h2>\n