Decarbonising ports : what is the best course to take ?

According to the World Trade Organisation, maritime shipping and, to a lesser extent, river transport account for 80% of the volume of international trade in goods. In 2023 the International Maritime Organisation, a specialised agency of the United Nations, revised its strategy to reach net-zero emissions by around 2050. While replacing fossil fuels with renewable alternatives will reduce the bulk of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, port infrastructure also has a role to play in decarbonisation efforts.

More environmentally friendly ports: how OPS can help docks go electric

The main source of emissions produced in ports comes from ship engines. Even while at berth, vessels continue running their auxiliary engines to power their onboard systems and, in some cases, keep refrigerated containers cold. Ship engines are estimated to account for 60% of emissions from ports (11% of global maritime emissions according to the OECD). The main solution for substituting the operation of auxiliary engines while ships are berthed and accelerating port decarbonisation is to hook ships up to the shore power grid to supply them with cleaner energy. These Onshore Power Supply, or OPS, systems are a powerful way forward in decarbonising port infrastructure, provided low-carbon fuels are used in the shoreside energy mix. 

Using electricity to power moored ships also contributes to reducing air emissions of pollutant gases, such as sulphur oxides and nitrogen oxides, and fine particles. The Swedish port of Gothenburg began building infrastructure to provide electric connections for ships in the early 2000 s. The port authorities estimate that the project has reduced the port’s emissions of greenhouse gases and pollutants by 1, 200 tonnes a year. 

Lower-carbon port equipment

Another important step towards improving the carbon footprint of ports is to reduce the GHG emissions of port equipment. As part of the European Clean Hydrogen Partnership, the port of Valencia in Spain has been experimenting with hydrogen-powered handling equipment (container stacker and terminal tractor) in real operation conditions since 2023. Using green hydrogen produced from renewable energy sources, the project is testing the long-term viability of this equipment. 

Port decarbonisation also involves switching to alternative propulsion systems for vessels used in port operations, such as patrol boats, tugs and pilot boats. In Belgium, the port of Antwerp is gradually replacing its fleet of service vessels to integrate alternative fuels. Two hybrid boats, one hydrogen-powered tug and one methanol-powered tug are already in operation. The Antwerp port authorities are trialling these clean technologies to determine which is the most efficient. 

Power generation in ports

A variety of solutions are used to generate low-carbon energy directly in ports. One example is in the port of Brest, which is testing energy production with a floating solar power unit installed in one of its unused basins. The estimated 18 MWh produced per year will be for self-consumption. 

The port of Barcelona has determined that its potential photovoltaic production is about 120  GWh per year, which covers 50% of its electricity consumption. So far, the port has installed 43  MWh of rooftop solar panels on buildings used by the port’s fishermen.

In November 2023, Haropa Port, the French public agency that covers all the river ports along the Seine (Le Havre, Rouen and Paris), announced that it would install a low-carbon hydrogen production unit in Grand-Quevilly, a town in northern France. By 2029, the plant will have the capacity to produce up to 50, 000 tonnes of green hydrogen per year.

Port infrastructure also plays a major role in supporting the gradual replacement of fossil fuels used by ships with renewable or low-carbon alternatives. Haropa Port intends to contribute to decarbonising maritime and river shipping by distributing or producing low-carbon energy. Its plan is to supply ports with synthetic fuels made from CO₂ captured from the atmosphere, which can be used to fuel vessels navigating the Seine valley.