With new EU funding, Northern European ports to enable shore power for boxships by 2030

Four Northern European ports have been granted EU funding for projects to reduce emissions from containerships moored at their quays.

With a joint support of €18.8 million from the EU fund Connecting Europe Facility for the project EU.OPS.Network, the Aarhus, Gothenburg, Bremerhaven, and Stockholm ports will provide onshore power supply (OPS) to containerships calling at the ports by 2030.

The program is said to have a large reduction potential not only for CO2 but also for other substances such as nitrogen oxides emitted from container vessels moored at the ports.

“We are very pleased that the European Commission and the CEF Committee recognize our high ambitions for the green transition. As some of Northern Europe’s most important ports, it’s fantastic that we can collaborate to reduce the shipping industry’s climate footprint, which is a global challenge we face together. OPS for container ships is a crucial part for all the ports involved,” Anne Zachariassen, COO of Port of Aarhus and project coordinator, commented.

A major step toward sustainable shipping

As explained, the project is a direct response to new EU regulations that will come into effect in 2030, requiring ships over 5,000 gross tonnage to connect to onshore power supply while moored.

Through OPS, containerships will be able to use electricity from the grid instead of generating their own power onboard using diesel engines. This results in a reduced climate footprint, cleaner local environments, and improved working conditions in the ports.

Ports of Stockholm’s investment in Stockholm Norvik

Ports of Stockholm’s part in the project involves connecting container vessels to green electricity at Stockholm Norvik Port from 2027.

The port, which was officially inaugurated in 2023, was already prepared for this purpose at the time of construction which means that the infrastructure to some extent already is in place. The electricity connection established in the project will be available to all shipping companies on equal terms and will consist of a mobile container dispenser covering two berths.

“Together with the other ports in the project, we are investing in a rapid and safe expansion of onshore power for container ships to further strengthen our modern cargo port Stockholm Norvik Port as a hub for sustainable transport. EU’s positive decision on funding indicates that it is a priority project for increased electrification of the transport sector with a focus on the transition of shipping,” Johan Wallén, Marketing and Sales Manager at Ports of Stockholm, said.

To remind, Ports of Stockholm recently inaugurated ‘Sweden’s first’ onshore power connection for international cruise ships, improving the region’s position as a sustainable cruise traffic destination.

The investment in onshore power is part of Ports of Stockholm’s long-term environmental and sustainability work and contributes directly to the EU’s climate goal Fit for 55. The goal is to reduce the union’s carbon dioxide emissions by at least 55% by 2030.

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