The Netherlands invests $150 million for shore power plants

The Ministry of Infrastructure in the Netherlands has announced it

realise shore power plants in seaports.

A further €40 million ($43 million) will be added from the climate

fund.

The Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management of the Netherlands,

Mark Harbers, signed a letter of intent with the Branch Organisation for

Seaports (BOZ) on 22 May, setting out public-private agreements on the roll-out

of shore-based power.

With the forthcoming Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR),

European ports will be required to supply so-called AFIR vessels with shore

power from 2030.

These include container ships, cruise ships, passenger ships, and combined

passenger and cargo ships from 5,000 gross tonnage.

The funds for shore power are mainly intended for terminals where AFIR

vessels moor, but other shore power projects for maritime shipping will also

become eligible for subsidies.

BOZ previously calculated that some 270 megawatts of shore power capacity

will need to be installed in ports for AFIR vessels in the coming years to meet

the upcoming obligation, requiring an investment of more than

€300 million ($322 million).

The sector organisation assumes this will lead to an annual reduction of

over 220 kilotonnes of carbon dioxide (CO₂), and a reduction of 2.5 kilotonnes

of nitrogen oxides (NOX).

According to the Port of Rotterdam, realising shore power facilities will

not only bring environmental benefits and reduce noise pollution, but it may

also create nitrogen space for climate projects in the port.

The five major seaports of national importance are working with the

Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management and the terminals on the shore

power task in the respective ports.

These are the Ports of Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Groningen, Moerdijk and North

Sea Port (Vlissingen, Terneuzen and Ghent).

“To meet the climate targets, it is essential that all sectors do their

part, including the maritime sector,” Minister Harbers said.

“I am glad that with this subsidy scheme, we can lend a helping hand to the

sector and will further encourage the installation of shore power.

“This will not only result in environmental gains, but also to fewer noisy

generators on vessels moored at the quay. It will hopefully also free up space

for development in the ports as well as new climate projects.”

Earlier in the year, the Swedish government approved Ports of Stockholm’s

request to submit a joint application for a grant from the EU’s Connecting

Europe Facility (CEF).

More recently, the shore power infrastructure at Terminal 5 of the

Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA) welcomed the first ship to plug into the

infrastructure while at berth.