‘Next big step’ taken for Sydney’s Bays Port shore power project

Australia’s Port Authority of New South Wales (NSW) has reached new milestones in developing its shore power project in the Bays Port precinct that is expected to become the “world’s first” 100% renewable energy shore-powered shipping precinct.

Bays Port, which includes Glebe Island and White Bay, will be the first bulk shipping precinct fully supplied by shore power, according to the port authority.

The port’s plan includes installing five shore power connection points – four for bulk ships at Glebe Island and one for cruise ships at the White Bay Cruise Terminal. 

The White Bay Cruise Terminal will be the first shore-powered cruise berth in the Southern Hemisphere.

The project envisages investing nearly $60 million in developing a landside electricity supply for cruise ships at the White Bay Cruise Terminal, offset by renewable electricity generation, by the end of 2026.

The port authority has shared recent project updates, described as “the next big step”, including planning approval and tender for the major package of works in delivering the first installation in the shore power project at Bays Port.

Specifically, the planning approval for White Bay Cruise Terminal shore power installation was obtained earlier this month.

In August 2024, the port authority awarded the contract for the major package of works covering the design, fabrication, supply, and installation of shore power equipment at White Bay Cruise Terminal (White Bay berth 5 at the Bays Port precinct), and internal electrical distribution network within the port.  

The port authority and the NSW government unveiled the project in March 2022. At the time, the Port Authority of NSW CEO, Philip Holliday, noted that delivering shore power will drive the port closer to net-zero targets, with 75% emissions reduction by 2030 and net-zero by 2040.

Several months later, the government decided to fast-track the renewable energy shore power project and the port authority entered into a power purchase agreement (PPA).