The Energy Stream - Focus on Energy for Ports

As maritime emissions come closer to inclusion in Carbon Trading systems ports should prepare to incorporate carbon pricing into their management systems and engage with energy efficiency and emissions reduction.

Acting jointly

The World Ports Climate Initiative (WPCI) coordinated by IAPH’s Fer van der Laar, brings ports together to share expertise and develop best practice solutions. To date the Emissions Shipping Index (ESI), an Onshore Power Supply (OPS) and a Carbon Footprinting methodology and support tools have all been developed and launched.

Valeria Mangiarotti explained how managing Cruise ship emissions is a shared priority for the 98 ports in MedCruise.

Strategic partnerships can be beneficial. GE and the Port of Rotterdam is one example. ENEL are working with the Ports of Civitavecchia, Venice, La Spezia and Barcelona. Andrea Valcalda explained ENEL’s ‘Green Ports’ concept towards a zero emissions port incorporating electric mobility.

Dealing with Ship Emissions

To ‘OPS’ or ‘Not to OPS’?

Onshore Power Supply proved to be an important and controversial topic.

Carnival Corporation is investing heavily in equipping their fleet for OPS. Emilio Tombelesi stressed each port must assess whether an installation will deliver overall lower emissions for a reasonable cost and return. The WPCI OPS website may be a useful assessment tool.

ABB’s Luca Imperali and Igor Agostini from ENEL provided insights into their OPS technologies.

Other emissions reductions strategies mentioned include engine improvements and operational efficiencies, scrubbers and alternative fuels including sail power, fuel cells and LNG.

Is the future bright for LNG?

Susann Dutt presented the Port of Gothenburg’s decision to develop facilities to support LNG. It believes LNG can provide a ‘natural gas bridge to the future’.

ECSA’s Alfons Guinier* stressed that widespread adoption of LNG faces many challenges. LNG is a possible solution to meet the 2015 ECA limit of 0.1% Sulphur Oxide (SOX) but the industry is unlikely to be ready by then!

Shipping and Emissions Indices

The Clean Shipping Index (CSI), ESI and Green Award have been developed to encourage emissions reductions. CSI’s Sara Sköld provided a comparison and suggested a single global index might be preferable. Ports can offer port due reductions to good performers. Some cargo owners are using CSI as a selection tool.

Eliminating Wasteful Emissions

Captain Ben van Scherpenzeel (EHMA) emphasised the need for better port passage planning and ship-toshore data exchange to reduce sea leg emissions by potentially 40-50%. This was echoed by Maersk Line.

Ports and Terminals as Energy Managers and Generators

Is this really part of my core business?

With the emergence of Energy Ports this is clearly the case for some. This may be ‘on-site generation’, ‘offsite/ shore’ generation servicing and support, or a combination of both e.g. Oostende. Energy can provide diversification, leveraging the ports natural assets and renewable energy sector growth.

Diversification into Energy

Wim Stubbe presented the Port of Oostende’s diversification into energy. Areas include support for the offshore wind industry and a growing energy park hosting renewable energy generation installations. The Greenbridge business incubator, a JV with the University of Gent, supports renewable energy research and development.

Ports and Terminals are ‘energy-hungry’ businesses. Rising costs and carbon constraints drive the need to decarbonise. This was echoed by many participants. The 3B’s approach shared by VPA’s Emanuele Zanotto* seemed very clear: Be Lean, Be Clean, Be Green.

• Be Lean – Audit and identify measures to maximise efficiency savings
• Be Clean – Use emissions efficient technologies
• Be Green – Use energy from renewable energy sources

Be Lean and Be Clean

Lighting and Electrification were identified for action during the event.

• Lighting. Richard Marks (Royal Haskoning) highlighted advances in LED lighting. Many ports are re-assessing the extent and intensity of lighting required. Automated terminals can operate without area lighting. Emanuele Zanotto presented CO2 savings of 83% achieved from converting a 14ha area to LED lighting. Cost savings are €75,000 pa. DP World also echoed positive benefits.
• Electrification is a key strategy for ‘cleaner’ operations. Richard Marks showed how port equipment was evolving from 0% to 100% electrification. Electrification is transforming terminal operations as innovation drives greater levels of efficiency. Jan Henrik Pietsch discussed its importance for HHLA where investment is ongoing. With energy sourced from renewables operations can be carbon neutral.

Be Green … Using Renewable Energy Sources (RES)

Of the RES discussed during the event solar farming and farming energy from waste and algae were perhaps notable.

Solar farming

Roof located solar farms appear to dominate. Frank Nevijo (Port of Koper) discussed their 2MW capacity PV installation on warehouses and other port facilities. On a significantly larger scale, eambiente’s Michele Perissinotto shared developments at the Interporto of Padua. 15 MW of PV will be installed over a roof area of approx 250,000 m2, sufficient to support up to 5000 households.

Farming Waste

Ports are recognising the value of waste as an energy source. eambiente provided insight into a pilot project to produce biogas from organic waste materials. Linked to CHP, heat and electricity are generated and surplus material composted. The Port of Koper is investing in a similar project.

HHLA’s Container Terminal Tollerort’s buildings and workshops are heated via a bio-gas pipeline from the Hamburg sewage plant saving 1000 tonnes CO2 per annum. B9’s Clean port concept also generates biogas from waste as a key element.

Energy from Algae

Enalg’s Willer Bordon explained how algae could be farmed to generate biofuel, utilising the suns energy and CO2 captured from other industrial processes. A pilot plant is in development at the Port of Venice.

Developments in Passenger Terminals

Guy Barlow (The Manser Practice) discussed incorporating renewable technologies into Passenger Terminals. He stressed that optimal design of the building to suit its climatic conditions and passenger flows were paramount.

Richard Marks shared developments in passenger bridges where energy loads can be reduced through innovative lowering technology.

Michele Perissinotto introduced eambiente’s pilot project with VTP to replace windows of the passenger bridge at the Maritime Passenger Terminal with Building Integrated PV.

And the future?

A number of technologies remain at the frontier, difficult to predict. These include wave power and tidal generation. Richard Marks provided some insights. Fuel cells and hydrogen technology generally remain at the demonstration stage. LNG shows promise and is gaining momentum!

Kate Royston MBA AIEMA

Robbee Smole - Sustainable Business Solutions