Port of Aberdeen breaks ground on commercial shore power system

Construction of a commercial shore power system has started at the Port of Aberdeen as part of a £4 million ($5.1 million) project designed to supply clean electricity to vessels at seven berths.

Port of Aberdeen breaks ground on commercial shore power system

The project is scheduled to deliver its first power in March 2025.

The ‘Shore Power in Operation’ demonstrator project was awarded match funding as part of the Department for Transport’s (DfT) Zero Emissions Vessels and Infrastructure (ZEVI) competition.

The shore power system, also known as ‘cold-ironing’, is being installed by PowerCon. The installation includes connecting the modular shore power system to the grid, as well as establishing quayside connection points via mobile cable reels.

Vessels will receive clean, grid-powered electricity under the port’s renewable energy tariff while berthed at Albert Quay and Means Quay in the port’s North Harbour.

This allows vessels to shut off their main and auxiliary engines while at berth and reduce their carbon emissions by more than 80 per cent compared to marine gas oil (MGO) usage, and significantly lower particulates, nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulphur oxides (SOx), and noise.

The initiative is being delivered in partnership with a consortium of technology and innovation centres, engineering specialists, state-of-the-art vessel owners and operators, a university and research centre, as well as public sector bodies.

The project will evaluate both land-side and vessel-side power infrastructure construction and performance, along with a commercial analysis to assess the financial and socio-economic benefits for the port and its stakeholders.

Building on prior funding for a feasibility study, this project has outlined the system design for demonstration-scale shore power facilities. Additionally, the partners will analyse the broader impact of transitioning to greener power within the port.

Bob Sanguinetti, CEO, Port of Aberdeen, said: “We are delighted to be breaking ground on this project, which is pivotal on our journey to net zero by 2040.

“This is a great example of public and private partnership to drive forward advances in delivering green infrastructure for ports.”

Maritime Minister, Mike Kane, said: “Decarbonising shipping is crucial to our plans of creating more sustainable jobs and a cleaner environment.

“Today’s announcement marks a significant step forward in achieving this, putting the UK at the forefront of sustainable port technology and anchoring its position as a global leader in tackling climate change.”

Earlier this March, EIS Waste Services Ltd, a recycling company, inked a £300,000 ($378,000) three-year deal with the Port of Aberdeen to handle waste management and recycling across the port’s facilities, including vessels and offices.

More recently, the Port of Aberdeen invested £1 million ($1.27 million) in new technology to improve safety, connectivity, and sustainability in partnership with North.