PORTS are going beyond being logistics hubs and are increasingly part of efforts to decarbonise infrastructure, Oceon Energy founder Jordan Glanville is to tell the Port Electrification Australia conference in Sydney this week.
Mr Glanville told DCN ahead of the conference that ports could significantly reduce emissions via the use of low carbon or renewable onshore power.
Melbourne-based Oceon Energy is building integrated systems to support this transition, with Electrified Ocean Networks (EONs) to connect vessels, ports and energy markets into a coordinated energy system.
“We help reduce emissions, unlock investment, and enable commercial pathways for maritime electrification at scale,” Mr Glanville said.
Mr Glanville is a naval architect with two decades of experience in the maritime and energy sectors.
Those attending the Port Electrification conference are expected to learn how ports across Australia plan to decarbonise their operations and support their tenants via electrification.
In one example, Port of Brisbane announced earlier this year that its industrial estate had an embedded network to supply 100% renewable power to customers, either through onsite generation, storage, or via a power purchase agreement (PPA).
Mr Glanville told DCN that:
He said major port tenants, tug operators, stevedores and logistics providers have publicly stated decarbonisation goals and are assessing or trialling electrification.
The next step is expected to be turning intent into delivery and developing the infrastructure, energy systems and commercial models.
“Ports can play a critical enabling role as the host sites for these activities,” Mr Glanville said.
Another electrification advocate, Climate Energy Finance (CEF) director Tim Buckley, said it was time for permanent solutions to fossil fuels.
He is speaking to the conference about the work of CEF as an independent research centre, which partners with government and the private sector to accelerate the net zero transition.
From a global perspective, the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) is advocating and promoting electrification of ports to decarbonise shipping.
The IMO's GreenVoyage2050 program is supporting pilot projects for ferry electrification in countries like Türkiye, India, Indonesia and Viet Nam.
Norway is a global leader in electrifying its harbour ferries, having launched the world's first fully electric ferry, the MF Ampere, in 2015.
Supported by government policy and abundant renewable energy, Norway has rapidly transitioned its ferry fleet to electric or hybrid-electric technology, which significantly reduces emissions and operating costs.
Singapore is also moving in this direction by electrifying harbour craft.
Earlier this year, then chief executive (maritime and ports) at Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, Teo Eng Dih, announced a technical reference guide as “a critical step towards developing a safe, robust, and interoperable charging infrastructure for electric harbour craft”.