Four major ports in North Europe are set to receive major funding from the EU to help provide onshore power to container ships by 2030.
The ports of Aarhus, Gothenburg, Bremerhaven, and Stockholm are to receive €18.8 million from the EU fund Connecting Europe Facility for the project EU.OPS.Network. The project is in direct response to new EU regulations that will come into effect in 2030, requiring ships over 5000 gross tonnage to connect to onshore power supply (OPS), while moored, meaning electricity comes from the grid instead of through use of onboard diesel engines.
“We are very pleased that the European Commission and the CEF Committee recognize our high ambitions for the green transition… OPS for container ships is a crucial part for all the ports involved,” says Anne Zachariassen, COO of Port of Aarhus and project coordinator.
This view is shared by Ports of Stockholm which is expecting to connect ships to green electricity at Stockholm Norvik Port from 2027, as Johan Wallén, Marketing and Sales Manager at Ports of Stockholm confirms: “Together with the other ports in the project, we are investing in a rapid and safe expansion of onshore power for container ships to further strengthen our modern cargo port Stockholm Norvik Port as a hub for sustainable transport. EU’s positive decision on funding indicates that it is a priority project for increased electrification of the transport sector with a focus on the transition of shipping.”
