Boskalis commissions green shore power facility in Rotterdam

A large-scale shore power facility, expected to generate 2 gigawatt hours (GWh) of green electricity annually, has been commissioned at the port of Rotterdam. 

PHOTO: The Europoort area in the Port of Rotterdam. Getty Images

The facility has been commissioned by Dutch maritime infrastructure firm Boskalis at its premises in Waalhaven in Rotterdam. It will enable vessels that are handled by Boskalis to use green shore power while berthed in the port.

The shore power installation is expected to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 1,600 mt/year.

Rotterdam Shore Power — a joint venture between Eneco and the Port of Rotterdam Authority — will own the shore power installation.

Furthermore, the installation will draw green shore power from Rotterdam Shore Power. Eneco, a Rotterdam-based sustainable energy producer, will supply the green power produced from wind and solar energy to Rotterdam Shore Power. 

The facility will provide green shore power to ships as well as land-based electrical equipment to carry out projects in the region. 

The municipality of Rotterdam and the European Union, through the European Regional Development Fund, will jointly finance the venture. 

The project is in line with the Rotterdam city and the port authority's joint thrust on shore power development.

Shore power has been gaining traction across port authorities and ship operators globally to reduce emissions while a ship is berthed.

The IMO's Global Maritime Energy Efficiency Partnerships Project (GLOMEEP) has found that shore power may potentially eliminate the local noise and air pollution related to ship activity in a port.

By Manjula Nair

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