Members’ Opinions: Prospects for Sustainable Maritime Transport and the Need for Installed Renewable Energy Solutions at Port Facilities – by Patrick Idemudia

 

ICHCA members frequently contribute written content to our active projects.  Sometimes we also receive member authored content which takes the form, for example, of a white paper.

 

Where we think that it might be of interest to members but is not part of an immediate project, we are able to publish it on our site. In the following article, member Patrick Idemudia considers the Prospects for Sustainable Maritime Transport and, in his view, the Immediate Need for Installed Renewable Energy Solutions at Port Facilities.

We would be interested to hear other members’ views on Patrick’s ideas and the case studies that he considers from across the industry.

Prospects for Sustainable Maritime Transport and the Need for Installed Renewable Energy Solutions at Port Facilities

By Patrick Idemudia

As the international community reaches a crescendo in the effort to address global warming, the shipping industry faces a fork in the road. At the same time, the pressure is on for the industry that holds the key to global commerce to clean up its environmental act. A very important area is the supply of energy to ships while in port; this has been provided through diesel generators until recently. It increases greenhouse gas emissions and negatively impacts air pollution in the port cities. With respect to such challenges, a growing need toward adaptation in the usage of alternative green energy sources for powering the vessels that are moored can be felt at the terminals of ports. Tidal, wave, solar, and wind energies, or their hybrids tapped either individually or in hybrid systems could be an industrial revolution with both environmental and economic dividends.

The Environmental Imperative
The shipping industry contributes about 2.5% of the world’s CO2 emission, of which a considerable proportion is due to energy consumption of ships in a berthed condition. Traditionally, vessels use auxiliary diesel engines for power in ports. These have contributed to increased air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. This can result in impaired air quality of the urban center around the ports, which has been linked to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases among residents living nearby. This foregoing environmental degradation and loss of public health thus create an urgent need for the shifting of ports to greener options for energy.

Sustainable Energy Options: Tidal and Wave Energy
Port terminals are presented with a number of viable alternatives; tidal and wave energy are considered to be at the top. These are the renewable resources because of inherent motion of water and due to this feature, they are particularly suitable for coastlines.

Case Analysis: MeyGen Tidal Energy Project, Scotland
The MeyGen tidal energy project in Scotland is one of the world’s most significant tidal energy projects, with the ability to power approximately 175,000 houses at full capacity. Put simply, underwater turbines essentially capture the kinetic motion from tides and convert it into energy. Potential installations in terminal areas could lead to a consistent, reliable source of energy and further reduce the reliance on fossil fuels intended to power vessels in port.

This would be particularly useful for ports located within areas of heavy tidal actions, like of the coasts of the United Kingdom, Canada, and most of Asia. For this port infrastructure, tidal energy schemes can be adopted simultaneously to reduce carbon emissions significantly and make a very good example for other ports.

Case Study: Wave Energy Exploitation at the Port of Mutriku, Spain
Wave energy is, therefore, one of the viable options, and this is supported by the case of the Port of Mutriku in Spain. It hosts the first commercially listed wave power plant in Europe, which has been operational since 2011. The facility captures the energy from ocean waves and converts it into electricity, feeding it into the local grid and reducing dependency on other conventional sources of energy for the port itself.

In regions with significant wave activity, like the Pacific coasts of North and South America, wave energy could be a consideration for port terminals. These systems can be engineered to function within the context of an existing port operation and are therefore in a position to be an attractive option for retrofitting old terminals or building new, green ports.

Tapping into the Sun: Solar Power for Ports
Solar energy is one of the various renewable sources of energy being adopted by port terminals. The advantages of solar power are already well-known: abundant, increasingly affordable, and deployable on a large scale. Many ports, with their large expanses of open space-albeit unused rooftops or open ground-are ideal to adorn the solar panels.

Case Study: Port of Los Angeles, USA
Besides being one of the busiest ports in the world, the Port of Los Angeles has been implementing many solar energy solutions. The port commissioned a 10-megawatt solar power system, with an installation to meet yearly electricity needs at more than 3,000 homes. This step comes as part of extensive efforts of the port authority to reduce its contribution of carbon emissions in attempts aimed at improving air quality around it.

In particular, it should serve quite effectively in the Mediterranean, Middle East, and Americas regions. By investing in large-scale solar installations, these various ports will be able to power not only vessels moored at their facilities but also pump excess energy into the local grid-a true win-win for both port and greater community.

Exploiting the energy of the wind: Wind Energy for Terminals
Wind power, like solar, is a mature technology that has been widely deployed throughout the world. Wind turbines are often appropriately sited on coastlines, where the wind is both consistent and strong, thus making them equally appealing for terminals.

Case Analysis: The Port of Rotterdam, Netherlands
The Port of Rotterdam has been leading, primarily in Europe, the integration of wind at the forefront. A number of gigantic wind turbines have been placed along its perimeter, generating adequate electricity supply that could power several thousand homes. The port is also considering using wind energy to power vessels that are currently docked at the port, once more cutting reliance on fossil fuels.

In the case of wind energy, there is outstanding suitability for harbors located in windy areas that include northern Europe, the Atlantic coasts, and some regions in Australia. It would also provide them with a real possibility of significantly reducing their greenhouse gas emissions and contributing to the worldwide effort to transition toward renewable sources of energy with their specific resources.

Integrated Systems: Tapping Green Energy Sources
While all these energy sources—tidal, wave, solar, and wind—are very promising, for many ports the best solution would be a system combining at least several sources. It could create a smoother, more reliable energy output and potentially reduce some of the intermittency often associated with a single renewable energy source.

Case Analysis: Port of Esbjerg, Denmark
These are just a few reasons why an integrated approach is paramount in modern life. A good example of such an integrated approach is the Port of Esbjerg, Denmark. This port has literally set a milestone in terms of integrating wind and solar energy to power its facilities, thereby bringing its carbon footprint down to incredibly low levels. By harnessing these two energy sources, the port attains stability in power supply, irrespective of the weather conditions.

Practical Application: Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems
Hybrid renewable energy systems have been finding rapid interest in many sectors and, similarly, even in ports. Integration of diverse sources of energy, such as wind and solar energy, shall contribute to creating a much better and unbreakable supply of energy for the port. The port could, for instance, use the wind when the sun has peaked during the day, supported by the sun while conditions are right for both. It could also be powered from batteries or tidal systems during night conditions or at low wind.

The benefit of hybrid systems varies from ensuring energy security and reducing dependence on one source of energy to the ability to adjust for regional composition requirements. With continuous development in battery technology, their ability to serve all port activities will also keep increasing, including stationary vessels.

Economic Rationale for Green Energy in Ports
Aside from the ecological benefits, there is also one very valid economic reason for port terminals to invest in green energy systems. This is because generally high capital outlay for renewable energy infrastructure can be offset through long-term savings in fuel costs plus any revenue derived from powering moored vessels and selling excess energy back to the grid.

Government Incentives and Carbon Pricing
Many governments give various incentives, such as grants, tax breaks, and low-interest loans, to help finance these renewable energy projects. Additionally, carbon pricing mechanisms are on the increase, thereby raising the cost for those ports that would continue with fossil fuels and thus making the switch to renewable energies all the more inviting.

Job Creation and Boosting of Local Economies
Second, it creates jobs within alternative energies and thus boosts local economies. Resource and labor-intensive building, operation, and maintenance of alternative fuel systems ofer promising job opportunities for people in port cities. Additionally, through this, the positioning of ports as a leader in sustainability attracts environmentally conscious businesses and consumers, further bolstering growth.

Conclusion: A Call to Action for all the World’s Ports
The requirement for ports to switch to green renewable power sources for supplying vessels in port is obvious. Again, both the environmental and economic benefits, let alone the public health benefits, would be huge from such a switch in power sources. The technology at this time for such support is available. Tidal and wave energy along with solar and wind are options available to ports.

Finally, the world’s leading economies should as a matter of urgency legislate such an initiative into action with a set timeline for a full implementation across all the port terminals within her jurisdiction by the year 2030.

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