Shoreside power momentum

In the US, Port Everglades (FL) has completed a study assessing the capacity of the existing electrical grid and the required upgrades to deliver shore power to eight cruise terminals.

The plan recommended by the port will see delivery of up to 16 MW of electricity being provided simultaneously to each of the eight locations. If fully implemented, this shore power and electrification initiative will remove 11,366 metric tons of CO2 while also reducing NOx by 75 per cent and SO2 emissions by 51 per cent – or equivalent to taking 2470 cars off the road annually, according to the port authority.

The project has an estimated cost of around US$20 million per cruise terminal, giving a total investment of US$160 million, with construction potentially commencing in mid-2024 and full completion before the end of 2027. Carnival Corporation, Disney Cruise Line, and the Royal Caribbean Group were all actively involved in the study.

Meanwhile, ABL Group has concluded there are two possible brownfield sites that could offer opportunities to install a solar photovoltaic (PV) plant at the Port of Mombasa, Kenya for shoreside power supply.

“The study found that significant reduction in the local burning of heavy fuel oils can be secured from the use of cold ironing [shore power], resulting in an improvement to local air quality,” explained Aimee Besant, Energy Storage Lead, ABL Group, adding that a 5–10 MW peak solar plant energy system could be harnessed to support a green energy shore power system.

The project was commissioned following the proposed introduction of the Green Ports Policy by the Kenyan Ports Authority which plans for all vessels at the port of Mombasa to turn off onboard generators and operate from shore power.