By
Laura Hyde |
Shore power is now operational at eight berths at the Port of Aberdeen’s North Harbour in Scotland. It is hoped the new infrastructure, installed by PowerCon, will cut up to 60,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) over the next 20 years, to meet the port's aim of being the first in the UK to achieve net zero by 2040.
The new infrastructure is part of ‘Shore Power in Operation’, a project supported by the UK Government’s Department for Transport’s Zero Emissions, Vessels and Infrastructure (ZEVI) competition funded by the UK Government and delivered in partnership with Innovate UK.
“[This joint public-private partnership] represents a £4 million ($5.3 million) investment in clean energy and will be a game-changer for Port of Aberdeen and our valued customers, who will benefit from an 80 per cent reduction in their carbon emissions while at berth,” said Bob Sanguinetti, CEO of Port of Aberdeen. “We’re in the business of clean energy, and we’re driving and supporting the energy transition in the North Sea. That’s why it’s so important that we’re leading from the front – investing in the future of the port and a cleaner, greener way of working which benefits our environment, community and customers as we strive for net zero by 2040. Public and private sector partnership is essential to move green infrastructure projects from feasibility studies and demonstrators to deployment at scale.”
Shore power infrastructure was also installed in two berths at Regent Quay as part of Bibby Marine’s Electric Service Operation Vessel ZEVI project. Meanwhile, work is almost complete to install shore power for Serco NorthLink’s passenger ferries, funded by Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited.
“This is a major achievement for Port of Aberdeen and I am proud to have supported it through the UK SHORE programme,” said Mike Kane, minister for aviation, maritime and security for the UK Government. “It shows what can be achieved when we put our full energy behind decarbonisation. We have charted a course to zero emission shipping by 2050, and it’s innovative projects like this that will help get us there.”
The Port of Aberdeen officially opened its expanded South Harbour in September 2023 in order to accommodate the predicted rise in visiting cruise ships and passengers.