Scotland’s maritime decarbonization efforts have taken a significant leap forward with the Port of Aberdeen launching its largest shore power project to date in its North Harbour. This initiative, now live, enables vessels docked at eight berths to connect directly to the port’s electricity supply, which is powered by its renewable energy tariff.
Major Achievement
Port of Aberdeen has achieved a significant milestone in its decarbonization journey with the activation of new shore power infrastructure, installed by PowerCon. This development is expected to cut up to 60,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent emissions over the next 20 years, an amount comparable to removing approximately 2,140 cars from the road annually.
The first vessel to utilize this new system was OSM Thome’s NS Iona, which is one of five vessels that have been retrofitted to accept shore power as part of this ambitious project.
Mike Kane, the UK Maritime Minister, lauded the achievement, stating, “This is a major achievement for Port of Aberdeen and I am proud to have supported it through the UK SHORE programme – it shows what can be achieved when we put our full energy behind decarbonisation.”
These newly electrified berths are a key component of the ‘Shore Power in Operation’ demonstrator, a joint public-private partnership representing a combined £4 million investment. The project is supported by the Department for Transport’s Zero Emissions, Vessels and Infrastructure (ZEVI) competition, funded by the UK Government and delivered in partnership with Innovate UK.
Beyond this demonstrator project, Port of Aberdeen has also installed shore power infrastructure to service vessels at two berths on Regent Quay. This is part of Bibby Marine’s electric Service Operation Vessel ZEVI project, further showcasing the port’s commitment to clean energy solutions. Additionally, work is nearing completion on installing shore power infrastructure for Serco NorthLink’s passenger ferries, a project funded by Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited. These additions build upon the port’s existing shore power facilities, which already support operational activities for its renewable energy customers and towage providers.
Looking ahead, Port of Aberdeen has ambitious plans to expand its shore power infrastructure to supply green electricity at more berths across its extensive 7,600m quayside. Bob Sanguinetti, CEO of Port of Aberdeen, emphasized the significance of this step: “Port of Aberdeen’s net zero journey has taken a significant step forward. Our Shore Power in Operation demonstrator is the single biggest maritime decarbonisation project in Scotland to date.”
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Source: Marine Link
