Pianc powers up renewables debate

The group is aiming to produce guidance and advice for port planners considering the feasibility of installing sources of renewable energy such as wind, solar and ocean energy (tidal, marine currents and wave energy). Geothermal energy could also be considered.

The report will focus on summarising the current state-of-the-art in the field of renewable energy devices which can be used within ports, provide general criteria to assess the reasonable share port energy consumption can be met with “CO²-free” solutions, provide advice for the implementation of both commercial and experimental projects, and review direct connections and/or integration of renewable energy devices to port infrastructure given port engineering restraints, electrical requirements and economic and financial implications.

WG 159 is expected to include port managers, port planners and designers, specialised academics, energy managers of main contractors, renewable energy experts and environmental experts.

The outcome will probably be a technical report pointing out main principles, opportunities, critical aspects and giving general advice, plus a set of selected case studies.

A timeframe has not yet been set for WG 159 but the aim is for a draft final report to be available two years after the “kick off” meeting. A date for that meeting was still to be scheduled at the time of writing.