Ministry and sector are working on expanding shore power in seaports | News item

News item | 22-05-2023 | 12:45

The Ministry of Infrastructure will allocate € 140 million in the coming years to help realize shore power installations in seaports. Another € 40 million will be added from the climate fund. By offering moored ships the opportunity to ‘plug in’, polluting diesel generators on the ships do not have to run and less noise pollution is also caused.

On Monday, Minister Mark Harbers (Infrastructure and Water Management) signed a letter of intent with the Sector Organization Seaports (BOZ), in which the public-private agreements on the roll-out of shore power are laid down.

With the upcoming Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR), from 2030 European ports are obliged to provide so-called AFIR ships with shore power. This concerns container ships, cruise ships, passenger ships, and combined passenger and cargo ships from 5000 GT (gross tonnage, which indicates the size of a ship). These are all large ships, which also use a lot of energy at the quay.

“In order to achieve the climate goals, it is essential that all sectors make their contribution, including the maritime sector,” said Minister Mark Harbers. “At the same time, this requires huge investments. I am pleased that with this subsidy scheme we can offer the sector a helping hand and further stimulate the installation of shore power. This not only leads to environmental benefits, but also to less noisy generators that run while a ship is berthed. And hopefully there will be room for development in the ports and new climate projects.”

The resources for shore power are mainly intended for terminals where AFIR ships moor, but other shore power projects for maritime shipping will also be eligible for subsidy.

“BOZ praises the cabinet’s efforts when it comes to shore power,” says BOZ chairman Boudewijn Siemons. “Walstroom offers many benefits to society, such as the reduction of CO emissions2NOX, particulate matter and noise. However, this does not translate into a sound business case for terminals and shipping companies. With the proposed subsidy scheme, IenW and BOZ have drawn up attractive preconditions for installing shore power now, in anticipation of the mandatory European introduction of shore power by 2030.”

The BOZ has previously calculated that some 270 megawatts of shore power capacity will have to be installed in the ports for the AFIR ships in the coming years to meet the upcoming obligation, with a required investment of more than € 300 million. The sector organization assumes more than 220 kilotons of CO22reduction per year (equivalent to approximately 75,000 households off gas), and 2.5 kilotons of NOX-reduction. When shore power is also offered to ships that will not be subject to the obligation, the potential and environmental benefits will be even greater.

By realizing shore power facilities, environmental benefits are not only achieved and noise nuisance is reduced: nitrogen space may also be created for climate projects in the port.

The 5 major seaports of national importance work together with IenW and the terminals on the shore power task in the respective ports. This concerns the ports of Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Groningen, Moerdijk and North Sea Port (Vlissingen, Terneuzen and Ghent).

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