The European Union marked a major milestone in its green maritime transition with the inauguration of the ‘Coordinated Supply of Onshore Power in Baltic Seaports’ project under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) Transport programme.
The event, held at the Port of Copenhagen, was attended by high-profile dignitaries including His Majesty The King of Denmark, European Commissioner for Energy Dan Jørgensen, and Danish Minister of Transport Thomas Danielsen.
Largest Onshore Power Facility in Europe Unveiled
The newly inaugurated onshore power facility at Copenhagen Port is now the largest of its kind in Europe. It can supply green electricity to:
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Cruise ships at Oceankaj and Langelinie terminals
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Ferries at Sondre Frihavn
This enables vessels to turn off fossil-fuel engines while docked, drastically reducing CO₂ emissions, air pollution, and noise in urban port areas.
Project Footprint Across the Baltic Sea Region
In addition to Copenhagen, the CEF Transport project has established onshore power connections in:
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Aarhus, Denmark
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Stockholm, Sweden
These Baltic seaports are part of the Scandinavian–Mediterranean core network corridor, with:
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Over 800 annual passenger vessel calls
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Approximately 200 weekly RoPax ferry operations
Environmental Impact: Saving Nearly 29,000 Tonnes of CO₂ Annually
The impact of these facilities is significant:
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Copenhagen alone will save ~18,000 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent per year:
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17,000 tonnes from cruise ships
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1,000 tonnes from ferries
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Total savings across all three ports: ~29,000 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent annually
This aligns with the EU’s strategy to green maritime transport, which currently accounts for around 3% of the EU’s total CO₂ emissions.
EU Investment and Financing Breakdown
The total cost of the project is €52 million, co-financed with:
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€11 million (20%) from the CEF Transport programme
Breakdown of CEF contributions:
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Copenhagen: €6.6 million
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Aarhus: €1.4 million
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Stockholm: €2.3 million
Strategic and Urban Significance
European ports like Copenhagen are crucial lifelines—for tourism, trade, and connectivity. However, they also represent emission hotspots. By investing in shore power, the EU demonstrates how innovation and infrastructure can protect both the environment and the livability of port cities.
With the successful implementation of this CEF Transport project, the EU is taking tangible steps toward net-zero emissions in the maritime sector. The project showcases how regional cooperation, clean technologies, and public investment can accelerate sustainable transport across Europe’s ports.
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Source: EUROPEAN COMMISSION
