Demonstrating the benefits of shore power within Port of Aberdeen

Port of Aberdeen is continuing to demonstrate leadership in maritime decarbonisation through innovation by heading up a new project that will develop and demonstrate the benefits of shore power within the port.

Overcoming key challenges

The maritime sector has a number of key challenges to overcome in order to unlock greener practices and make operational changes to meet net zero ambitions. While emissions from diesel powered vessels remain a substantial environmental problem, the safety and efficiency of new solutions requires demonstration before many within the sector can fully engage and embrace changes.

Therefore, new solutions that have the potential to make a significant impact should:

• help facilitate the change to in-port vessel powering and fuelling
• enable wider economic and environmental benefits for port regions

About the project

The ‘Shore power in operation’ project is aiming to showcase the potential of shore power innovation and demonstrate the opportunity for the UK maritime sector as a whole.

This project is an at-scale demonstration of a grid-powered system in Port of Aberdeen’s North Harbour. It will be undertaken with the aim of showcasing a viable solution that aligns with government targets for emissions reductions.

This work follows previous funding for a feasibility project which developed an outline system design for demonstration-scale shore power facilities. Project partners will also provide analysis into the wider impact of a change to greener power within the port.

The project scope

The project is led by Port of Aberdeen, supported by a consortium of engineering specialists, state-of-the-art vessel owners and operators, a university and research centre, as well as public sector bodies. They are all coming together to drive this opportunity for the region.

This initial phase until March 2025 will see the design and installation of shore power facilities at seven berths on Albert Quay and Mearns Quay in the port’s North Harbour. The project will assess both land-side and vessel-side power infrastructure construction and performance capabilities, as well as a commercial analysis to understand the financial and socio-economic benefits for the port and its users.

The project will also complete a range of academic research to understand environmental and economic impacts, as well as lessons and developments. This will improve the effectiveness of the system and its potential for replication across other UK ports.

Aims and ambitions

The ‘Shore power in operation’ project focuses on a bold net zero ambition, to cut emissions from these vessel berths by up to 80%.

This will provide the opportunity to save around 60,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) over the next 20 years from these berths alone. Success in this demonstration could then lead to the roll-out of shore power across the wider port estate, with the potential of cutting the port’s total emissions by 78%. This could mean a CO2e saving of 34,000 tonnes every year at North Harbour.

Beyond emissions, the project’s aim is to:

• produce a range of proof-of-concept business case data and studies in order to further develop its own proposition in Aberdeen
• help inform and support the wider UK maritime sector in adopting similar approaches

Pioneer and leading voice

The project will capture and analyse noise levels and clean air data and trends, as well as efficiency benefits around issues such as the ability to switch vessel engines off while at berth. This will provide real backing for the port as a pioneer and leading voice on net zero maritime operations.

A broader strategic study will also research:

• the opportunity to extend power and charging to land transport that services the port
• how wind, wave and shore power can combine in a future green energy network

It aims to give clearer evidence of the opportunity that exists to progress the innovation even further both at the port and beyond.

Collaboration is key

Thinking about the key role of the port, Marlene Mitchell, Commercial Manager at Port of Aberdeen, commented:

We’ve always considered the port to be a ‘living lab’ for innovation and concept development, where collaboration is key to driving forward the conversation around change.

The maritime sector understands it needs to play its part to minimise environmental damage. This responsibility, coupled with our responsibility to our community as a city based Trust port, is our impetus for leading this project and others in order to accelerate the adoption of new fuels, technologies and operations across the industry.

About the funding

This project is part of the Zero Emission Vessels and Infrastructure (ZEVI) scheme, funded by UK government and delivered by Innovate UK.

As part of ZEVI, the UK Department for Transport has allocated £80.4 million funding to 10 projects to build clean maritime vessel and infrastructure solutions by March 2025 and operate them until March 2028. The projects are supported by 52 organisations across the UK and will leverage over £40 million private investment.

The ZEVI scheme is part of the department’s UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE) programme, a £206 million initiative focused on developing the technology necessary to decarbonise the UK domestic maritime sector.