Adoption of shore power systems is set to accelerate with regulatory requirements for the use of zero-emissions technology at berths in Europe from 2030 – and, as the deadline fast approaches, Christoffer Ahlström of Manta Marine Technologies says ship owners and operators must begin charting their course to compliance.
This article was originally posted on Bunkerspot and you can access the full article here.
Along with its tightening greenhouse gas (GHG) requirements for vessels trading in the European Union (EU) from January 2025, the FuelEU Maritime (FEUM) regulation is set to require passenger and container ships to use a shore power connection or zero emissions technology at berth in Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) ports from 2030. Delay is inadvisable, as inability to comply with the regulation will result in penalties based on the ship’s electrical demand and the amount of time spent at berth in non-compliance. Potential reputational damage is a further incentive to plug in and comply rather than pay the fine. And while this initial stage is restricted to certain ports, there remains the possibility that other ports in the EU may follow suit.
Currently the incoming requirements cover the largest container and cruise ports in the EU, targeting reductions in both GHG emissions and other harmful emissions from shipping where they have the most impact on human health. With many ports and terminals close to population centres, the public health consequences of particulate matter emissions, sulphur oxide (SOx) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) are much higher than at sea where emissions are dispersed. There are other routes to compliance than shore power, but to meet the requirements of FEUM, a zero-emissions technology must not produce carbon dioxide (CO2), methane, nitrous oxide, SOx, NOx or particulate matter when producing energy. Those strict limitations rule out certain green fuels as a route to compliance. For example, while the lifecycle GHG emissions savings of green methanol may fit other decarbonisation regulations on a well-to-wake basis, the CO2 produced in its combustion would fall foul of FEUM’s rules for power generation in port. Fuel cells, onboard energy storage such as batteries, and onboard renewable power generation from solar and wind are all noted as zero emissions routes to compliance, but their adoption within shipping remains limited, especially in large merchant vessels. For most of the fleet, shore power is the most practical route to fulfilling the regulation’s requirements. The use of shore power allows ship engines to be shut off at berth, maintaining power to necessary systems onboard through a physical connection to the port’s electricity grid, drastically reducing in-port emissions.
With a fleet overwhelmingly powered by traditional fossil fuels and only a short timeframe in which to reach compliance, FEUM’s introduction has led to a surge of interest in shore power solutions for shipping as ship owners and operators learn of the importance the technology is set to play in their operations in port. Just over five years remain until onboard systems need to be in place and ready to deliver emissions savings. There is a competitive edge to be found in understanding the solutions available as well as the installation process and timelines involved in making ships ready to shut off their engines and plug into the grid while in port. Design and installation of a shore power system requires close collaboration between the solution provider and shipowner to ensure the installed system fully meets a ship’s needs. For a recent installation by Manta Marine Technologies on three Finnlines vessels, the first phase of the 10-month installation process involved preparatory work on the ships while underway and alongside, with simultaneous design work and final acceptance tests (FATs) carried out as part of the turnkey solution. While lead times for such work have fallen, FEUM may lead to a wave of orders which could bring lead times back up again. A number of operators are considering investing in retrofit solutions for their fleets to slash emissions in port and comply with regulations. Just as the industry learned in the rush to install scrubbers in advance of IMO’s 2020 sulphur cap, it pays to plan ahead, identify a reliable partner, and secure the expertise necessary to achieve goals.
The world fleet is diverse in all respects, from ship size to engine technology, and fuel type to power requirements. By covering the largest ports in Europe, including Antwerp, Hamburg, Amsterdam, and Piraeus, FEUM affects a wide range of vessels. From the world’s largest container and cruise ships down to those just within the regulation’s lower limit of 5,000 GT, shore power systems will need to provide electricity to onboard systems of all scales. This variety of vessels and their shipboard technologies is met with a mix of shoreside approaches to power provision, which could mean different voltages, frequencies, connectors, and communication protocols. Ensuring interoperability of systems is essential to smooth adoption for each vessel, for regional adoption in the EU and global adoption at other ports. International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standards are in place to cover much of the technical requirements of shore power systems. Manta Marine Technologies has joined a technical group at IEC to help build consensus among technology providers, address any gaps in standards, and avoid any additional costs and operational issues from incompatible shore power systems. We have also added a variable frequency converter to our portfolio which takes the electricity supplied from shore and converts it to a frequency safe and suitable for use onboard the ship.
With their regular routes and schedules, container ships are the ideal starting point for the eventual industry-wide rollout of shore power solutions. Knowing the ports at which a vessel will call brings the opportunity to ensure compatibility between ship- and shore-side systems, and identify any ports in need of adopting shoreside connections. The high energy requirements of container ships also mean that significant emissions can be saved by connecting up in port. Recent environmental regulation has led to a wait-and-see approach in some corners of shipping as ship owners and operators wait for competing alternative fuels to prove their value in meeting goal-based rules in a commercially viable way. FEUM’s approach to power provision for ships in port leaves the door open for multiple systems, but it is clear that the route to compliance for most of the fleet will be retrofitting shore power solutions. The adoption of shore power will not only bring benefits under FEUM, but benefits under other regional and global regulations, and a tangible step towards the industry’s overall ambition of net zero emissions by 2050. It is time to start assessing the commercial and regulatory benefits shore power will bring to the world fleet.
Christoffer has an extensive background in engineering and he has been driving the development of SOx scrubber-, SCR-, Wind Assisted Propulsion- and Shore Power Systems. He has previously had roles in Manta Marine as Electrical/Automation Manager, Technical Manager and Engineering Manager.
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