Work starts on Portsmouth International Port’s shore power system

At Portsmouth International Port in the UK, work has started on a shore power system that will allow ships to connect to clean electric power while berthed.

Work began with the digging of a trench to lay a 600-meter, 33-kilovolt cable underneath the port’s car lanes to connect the system to the electricity supply. As disclosed, the system will utilize an extra 15 megavolt amps (MVA) capacity secured by the port from Scottish and Southern Energy in 2023, which is all generated from clean, renewable sources.

Up to three ships will be able to plug in at once when the system goes live from spring 2025, the port said, adding that this means the ships can switch off their engines while alongside and operate under battery power when entering and exiting Portsmouth harbor.

The Sea Change project has been funded with £19.8 million ($25.67 million) from the Department for Transport and £4.6 million ($5.96 million) from Portsmouth City Council, along with a further £3 million ($3.89 million) from the council to secure the power necessary for the system. Brittany Ferries, one of the project partners, has invested €550 million ($593.2 million) to renew five vessels in the fleet, including two new Portsmouth-based LNG-electric hybrid ferries, and will be the main customer using the shore power system.

Maritime Minister Mike Kane commented: “UK shore power is crucial in making the sector greener and that’s why it’s fantastic to see this £19.8m help decarbonise one of the UK’s busiest ports. Plug-in technology is key to reducing domestic shipping emissions, and I know that ports across the UK are already working on decarbonisation plans.”

Cllr Kimberly Barrett, Portsmouth City’s Council Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Greening the City, stated: “The Sea Change project will mean the port, its customers and the city as a whole can all make large strides towards our ambitious sustainability goals, and it’s really exciting to see work now taking place. The shore power system will have the potential to help the port avoid 20,000 tonnes of carbon emissions per year from 2027, and importantly, improve air quality for Portsmouth residents.”

Christophe Mathieu, CEO of Brittany Ferries, noted: “An integrated approach to sustainability is essential if shipping is to achieve net zero by 2050. Ship owners, fuel companies, port partners and government bodies all have a role to play and this is why the Sea Change project is so important. It allows the potential of our plug-in hybrid ships to be realised and that benefits everyone.”

As informed, alongside the digging of the trench and laying of the cable, complex engineering work will also take place on the three berths where shore power will be provided, with the installation of a flexible cable management system that will enable ships of different shapes and sizes to plug in.

Brittany Ferries’ two new ships will launch in the new year and will both be able to use the system as soon as it is ready. The system will also be able to accommodate any shore-power-ready cruise ship that calls into the city.

As well as improving air quality for Portsmouth residents, Sea Change is projected to help avoid emissions of around 20,000 tonnes of CO2e from 2027.