Shore Power To Cut Emissions In Ports By 90%

Green shore power could reduce emissions in ports by more than 90%. Also, minimize noise and air pollution levels, a new feasibility study released by Scotland’s Aberdeen Harbour shows.

Concept

Aberdeen Harbour announced the findings of a feasibility study to provide green shore power within Aberdeen North Harbour. Hence, calls for collaboration and funding from the public and private sectors to make it a reality.

The comprehensive study, delivered in partnership with Connected Places Catapult, found:

78% of port emissions in North Harbour are coming from vessels at berth
Green shore power could reduce these emissions by more than 90%, as well as minimizing noise and air pollution levels
The proposed demonstrator project could provide green shore power in North Harbour within two years
Technical assessment and solution comparison already completed and provides a clear way ahead
Agreeing the commercial model and securing funding from the public and private sectors is critical to progress to the next phase of the demonstrator project.

The funding came from a grant of more than £400,000 from the UK Government’s £20 million Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition. Particularly introduced to drive innovation for clean maritime and shipping projects.

The project involved extensive stakeholder engagement and data analysis. Thus, helped to build a detailed picture of the needs and expectations of shipowners and port users.

Views on the Study

“Providing green shore power is a win for the port, our customers, the community and the environment. We now need commitment and collaboration as well as investment from the public and private sectors to deliver the demonstrator project. The feasibility study has developed a place-centred blueprint of the future green port that can be utilised by other ports across the country.”
Bob Sanguinetti, Chief Executive of Aberdeen Harbour Board

“Aberdeen has long been a centre of excellence in future energy systems. The CMDC has enabled us to work together with Aberdeen Harbour on the greatest challenges to face the sector. Through working with our partners at the port, Buro Happold, the Tyndall Centre and regional leaders, we have developed our port blueprint to be transferable to other ports and coastal regions. This will build confidence in future decarbonisation solutions across the sector informing next steps and stimulating collaboration in the run up to the recently announced, multi-year extension to the CMDC.”
Thomas White, Ecosystem Director – Maritime & Ports for Connected Places Catapult

“Shore power infrastructure is an important step in the decarbonisation of marine operations and aligns closely to bp’s long term decarbonisation ambitions. We are proud to support this project.”
Luke Hendricksen, Marine Operations Lead, bp

Connected Places Catapult supported Aberdeen Harbour by connecting with other UK port regions. Therefore, providing a place-centred blueprint of the future green port that is available for other ports across the country. Buro Happold and Tyndall Centre also provided support to the project.

In November 2021, Aberdeen Harbour signed a memorandum of understanding with bp; to identify and develop projects that could reduce emissions and lower air and noise pollution from vessels calling port. This includes the supply of a zero or low carbon power supply to all vessels in port, over time.

Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition

The Feasibility Study for Shore Power is part of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC). Specifically, launched in March 2021, funded by the Department for Transport and delivered in partnership with Innovate UK. As part of the CMDC, the Department allocated more than £23 million to 55 projects supported by 208 organisations from across the UK.

The CMDC was a part of the Prime Minister’s Ten Point Plan to position the UK at the forefront of clean maritime technologies and reduce emissions from the sector. The CMDC is supporting the research, design, and development of zero-emission vessel and infrastructure solutions to enable clean technologies to commercialise and to accelerate the decarbonisation of the maritime sector. The programme is funding projects from across the entire UK, including in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland as well as from the South West to the North East of England. We are proud to be part of a competition that supports UK innovators to achieve Net-Zero.

Source: Aberdeen Harbour