The Port of Toulon has successfully commissioned France’s largest shore power installation for ships, becoming fully operational since February 2025.
This state-of-the-art facility enables vessels to switch off their diesel engines while docked, significantly reducing harmful emissions, noise, and fuel consumption.
Equipped with advanced smart grid technology and the ability to support multiple ferries or a cruise ship simultaneously, the installation marks a major milestone in the region’s efforts to promote sustainable and environmentally friendly maritime operations.
Groundbreaking Shore Power Solution for Multiple Vessel Types
The Port of Toulon has completed commissioning of the country’s largest shore power installation, designed to supply ships with electricity while docked, allowing them to shut off diesel generators. The system supports voltage levels of 11kV and 6.6kV at 50Hz or 60Hz, enabling simultaneous connection of three ferries or one cruise ship—a first in France. Additionally, the port is equipped to connect a 1MW hydrogen fuel cell system.
This advanced shore power infrastructure is managed via a digitalized smart grid network architecture, optimizing energy flow from multiple sources and improving operational efficiency.
Major Environmental and Operational Benefits
According to Jean-Pierre Giran, President of Toulon Provence Méditerranée Metropolis, this project is crucial for reducing the port’s environmental impact. The shore power system cuts over 80% of polluting emissions, saves around 9,000 diesel operating hours annually, and reduces noise and vibrations significantly. The sulfur emissions reduction alone equals that of 50,000 cars per year.
These reductions support the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) emission goals and comply with the Mediterranean’s recent designation as the fifth IMO Emission Control Area for sulfur oxides and particulate matter.
Integration of Renewable Energy and Smart Energy Management
The system, developed and implemented by ABB along with partners Eiffage Construction and Fauché, incorporates battery energy storage and solar power integration. This allows the shore power installation to manage peak vessel energy demands smoothly, balance loads dynamically, and optimize energy costs using the 20kV Enedis grid.
Frédéric Mestivier, Technical Director of the project, emphasized the smart grid’s innovation in maximizing energy efficiency while minimizing carbon footprint. ABB’s shore power technology, already used in over 50 ports worldwide, marks a key advancement in port decarbonization efforts.
The Port of Toulon’s shore power installation sets a new benchmark for sustainable maritime infrastructure in France and the Mediterranean. By combining cutting-edge smart grid technology with renewable energy integration, the project supports cleaner, quieter port operations and advances shipping’s journey toward net-zero emissions.
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Source: ABB
