Energy Efficiency in European Ports: State-Of-Practice and Insights on the Way Forward

Abstract

The changing energy landscape in Europe, marked with the development of the Energy Union in 2015, had a profound impact also on the European port sector. With European ports becoming key points of energy production, but also being prominent energy users, energy consumption has naturally risen into a top environmental priority for port authorities. To this end, the paper provides a pragmatic and comprehensive overview of the main policies, technologies and practices that European ports have adopted to-date for enhancing their energy efficiency. Addressing a gap that has been identified in relevant recent literature, it gathers actual data and port experiences from many different sources in a first attempt to better facilitate knowledge and experience-sharing activities, that will support ports in collectively moving towards a zero-emission and climate-neutral future. Most importantly, it presents an effort to rationalize research findings, assist in aligning them with practice, shed more light on the exploitation path of this line of research and better inform future research efforts.

Future Greener Seaports: A Review of New Infrastructure, Challenges, and Energy Efficiency Measures

“…The European Union (EU) is also taking stringent actions to reduce the GHG emission from the ports, particularly during the ship hoteling process. The European ports have declared a deadline for the implementation of OPS until 2025 and offered 20-50% subsidies for OPS's performance [25]. Besides, the ports of Vancouver, Seattle, Tacoma have also decided to reduce 75% of diesel generators [35].…”

“…The ISO-50001 was introduced in 2011 as an effective and efficient tool for the achievement of energy reduction goals. It follows the Conventional Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) in the following ways [25] The processes and operations that are being monitored and affecting the performance of formulated energy policies and reduction targets(Check). -Based on the strategic decisions and results that ensure continuous improvement of energy performance and enhancing energy management systems(Act).…”

“…It is typically being used in modern ports to regulate traffic and to reduce port congestion. TAS is currently being applied in many European ports such as Valencia, Haminakotka, Gothenburg, Antwerp, and Gdansk [166], [25]. Other promising IoT applications, such as PORT MOD and RTPORT, in which PORT MOD is a visual and stimulating tool for container terminal operations.…”

Advantage of a Green and Smart Port of the Future

“…For operational actors in ports, energy efficiency is an important issue from environmental and economic perspectives [20]. In time, ports would like to be able to optimise their energy flows.…”

Assessing Renewable Resources at the Saronikos Gulf for the Development of Multi-Generation Renewable Systems

“…Energy consumption is high at urban centres and ports. For the latter, ports comprise several power-intensive operations that will need to be decarbonised without jeopardising operation capacity [14]. Several solutions have been highlighted for ports based on existing wind (onshore/offshore) and solar photovoltaics [15], and novel solutions are emerging such as integrated wave energy at ports and breakwaters [16][17][18].…”