The container terminal at the Port of Gothenburg. Photo: The Port of Gothenburg.
Four Northern European ports are set to significantly reduce emissions from container ships moored at their quays. With a joint support of €18,8 million from the EU fund “Connecting Europe Facility” for the project “EU.OPS.Network”, the ports of Aarhus, Gothenburg, Bremerhaven, and Stockholm are set to provide Onshore Power Supply (OPS) to container ships calling at the ports by 2030.
The project has a large reduction potential not only of CO2, but also other substances such as nitrogen oxides emitted from containerships moored at the ports.
“We are very pleased that the European Commission and the CEF Committee recognize our high ambitions for the green transition. As some of Northern Europe’s most important ports, it’s fantastic that we can collaborate to reduce the shipping industry’s climate footprint, which is a global challenge we face together. OPS for container ships is a crucial part for all the ports involved,” says Anne Zachariassen, COO of the Port of Aarhus and project coordinator.
A major step toward sustainable shipping
The project is a direct response to new EU regulations that will come into effect in 2030, requiring ships over 5,000 gross tonnage to connect to onshore power while moored. Through OPS, container ships will be able to use electricity from the grid instead of generating their own power onboard using diesel engines. This resulting in a reduced climate footprint, cleaner local environments, and improved working conditions in the ports.
5,600 tonnes of CO2 reduction in the Port of Gothenburg
The ports in question will use the funds in slightly different ways, but all aim to reduce the environmental and climate impact of moored vessels through OPS.
The Port of Gothenburg is one of the key players in the project and has the ambitious goal of reducing CO2 emissions by 70% in the port area by 2030 whereby OPS plays an important part in reaching this. The port has already OPS in place at its ro-ro and ro-pax terminals, as well as in its energy terminal for tankers.
“Through this project, The Port of Gothenburg will be able to build a high-voltage substation at the container terminal, which is a crucial part of the infrastructure needed to offer OPS to container ships. It is an investment of about € 20 million, with nearly half of the funding coming from the project,” says Julia Christensson, Grants Manager at the Port of Gothenburg.
By connecting container ships to onshore power, the Port of Gothenburg alone has the possibility to reduce emissions by at least 5,600 tonnes of CO2annually.
Fact file: CEF funding for EU.OPS.Network
Project Budget: €37.61 million
Requested CEF funding: €18.8 million (50%)
Implementation period: 2024-2027
Estimated CO2 reduction for the Port of Gothenburg: 5,600 tonnes annually
