The Ministry and seaports are working on expanding shore power
The Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management will allocate 140 million euros in the coming years to help realize shore power installations in seaports. Another 40 million euros will be added from the climate fund. By offering moored ships the opportunity to 'plug in', polluting diesel generators on the ships do not have to run and less noise pollution is also caused.
The Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management and the Sector Organization for Seaports (BOZ) have entered into a letter of intent for the installation of shore power. With minister Mark Harbers second from the left and Boudewijn Siemons on the right as chairman of the BOZ
On Monday, Minister Mark Harbers (Infrastructure and Water Management) signed a letter of intent with the Branche Organisatie Zeehavens (BOZ), in which the public-private agreements on the roll-out of shore power are laid down.
With the upcoming Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR), European ports will be obliged from 2030 to provide so-called AFIR ships with shore power. This concerns container ships, cruise ships, passenger ships, and combined passenger and cargo ships from 5000 GT (gross tonnage, which indicates the size of a ship). These are all large ships, which also use a lot of energy at the quay.
'In order to achieve the climate goals, it is essential that all sectors make their contribution, including the maritime sector,' said Minister Mark Harbers. 'At the same time, this requires huge investments. I am pleased that with this subsidy scheme we can offer the sector a helping hand and further stimulate the installation of shore power. This not only leads to environmental benefits, but also to less noisy generators that run while a ship is berthed. And hopefully there will be room for development in the ports and new climate projects.'
The resources for shore power are mainly intended for terminals where AFIR ships moor, but other shore power projects for maritime shipping will also be eligible for subsidy.
'BOZ praises the cabinet's efforts when it comes to shore power,' says BOZ chairman Boudewijn Siemons. 'Walstroom offers many benefits to society, such as the reduction of emissions of CO2, NOx, particulate matter and noise. However, this does not translate into a sound business case for terminals and shipping companies. With the proposed subsidy scheme, IenW and BOZ have drawn up attractive preconditions for installing shore power now, in anticipation of the mandatory European introduction of shore power by 2030.'
The BOZ has previously calculated that some 270 megawatts of shore power capacity will have to be installed in the ports for the AFIR ships in the coming years to meet the upcoming obligation, with an investment of more than 300 million euros. The sector organization assumes a CO2 reduction of more than 220 kilotons per year (equal to approximately 75,000 households moving away from gas), and a 2.5 kiloton NOx reduction. When shore power is also offered to ships that will not be subject to the obligation, the potential and environmental benefits will be even greater.
By realizing shore power facilities, environmental benefits are not only achieved and noise nuisance is reduced: nitrogen space may also be created for climate projects in the port.
The 5 major seaports of national importance work together with IenW and the terminals on the shore power task in the respective ports. This concerns the ports of Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Groningen, Moerdijk and North Sea Port (Vlissingen, Terneuzen and Ghent).
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