The Green Energy Ports Conference was held in Vigo for its 3rd edition and addressed shore power supply on its last day Thursday the 29th. A complete session was dedicated to EU funded CEF project “OPS Master Plan for Spanish Ports” that was chaired by green energy expert Alberto Casal from INOVA LABS.
Project Coordinator Mr. Julio de la Cueva explained Spanish National strategy on ‘cold ironing’ and gave details on three pilot actions included in the Project, on its technical studies and on its Consortium membership. Ms Mercedes Mella presented a study of a bunch of potential viable cases appraised prior to the start off the CEF Project. The round table was completed with the presentation given by Mr Santiago Yanes on the first realisation of the Project that is the provision of on-shore power in Canary Islands of La Palma and La Gomera. High voltage pilots in Port of Pasaia and in Palma de Mallorca – Barcelona link will complete the Project delivery in 2019.
The session gathered relevant international expertise on this matter including Port of Los Angeles, Port of Hamburg and Port of Stockholm where ambitious plans are being deployed to reduce impact of ships at berth on cities’ environment. Worth noting that 70 % of its calling container, ro-ro’s and ferries fleets are obliged to connect the grid for shore power as Californian Environmental Authority set emission reduction target yet for 2017 at 70 % and up to 80 % in 2020.
After presentations, an interesting debate was launched around requiring onshore power as a condition for its more rapidly spreading across the port industry.
