By
Alex Smith |
The Port of Toulon in France is to install ABB’s Shore Connection technology to provide power for ferries and cruise ships.
The French port receives around 1,300 yearly calls from ferries and cruise vessels. The ‘Zero-Smoke stopovers’ plan by the region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur aims to electrify the docks of Toulon, Marseille and Nice to enable emission-free stays for vessels.
Shore-to-ship power connections will allow ships to turn off diesel generators during port calls, producing fewer emissions in the centre of the city while also reducing the noise and vibrations generated when ships are docked.
“Toulon is the first Mediterranean port to supply power to all of its docks,” said Hubert Falco, president of the Toulon Provence Méditerranée Metropolis. “This is an innovative project built on an intelligent energy flow management system with a unique energy mix. The shore-to-ship power connection will eliminate more than 80 per cent of pollutant emissions. It will also save 9,000 hours of vessels running on diesel annually. For the ferry activity in the city of Toulon alone, this adds up to a reduction in sulphur emissions equivalent to those of 50,000 cars in a year.”
ABB will lead the consortium selected to manage and execute the turnkey project, with commissioning due in 2023. The ABB solution will be capable of delivering enough energy to cover the needs of three ferries calling to port simultaneously, or one cruise ship. Both 50 and 60 hertz power connections will be available. Eiffage Consortium will carry out the civil engineering work, and Fauché will be responsible for installing and connecting the equipment.
The system, designed by the Toulon Provence Méditerranée Metropolos, will be able to automatically adjust the energy mix to supply vessels through the local power network, with solar energy produced from a photovoltaic shelter and an energy storage system made up of lithium batteries. These capabilities will help smooth consumption peaks while allowing the storage of excess solar energy production. It will also be able to make use of other renewable energy sources such as fuel cells as they become available.
“We are honoured to have been selected by Toulon Provence Méditerranée Metropolis to work on this innovative project,” said Jyri Jusslin, head of service at ABB Marine and Ports. “We commend the Toulon authorities for grasping this opportunity. It sets a course for a more sustainable future with smart systems that already exist today.”