Antwerp Euroterminal has announced the installation of Belgium’s first shore power connection for seagoing vessels, set to be operational by 2026. This innovative system will provide docked vessels with electricity in an environmentally friendly and quiet manner, playing a crucial role in the greening of ports. The installation will be built according to international ISO standards.

Shore power allows moored ships to connect to the local electricity grid via a ‘socket’ on the quay, significantly reducing emissions of CO2, nitrogen oxides, sulphur oxides, and particulate matter. This technology enhances local air quality and reduces environmental noise. Two fixed shore power connections will be installed at the Antwerp Euroterminal for car carriers and conro vessels. AET, Europe’s largest multipurpose terminal and one of 24 terminals of the Grimaldi Group, is leading this initiative. Despite the European obligation to provide shore power for container vessels by 2030 not extending to ro-ro and con-ro vessels, AET has chosen to implement this system voluntarily, making it the first terminal in the port of Antwerp-Bruges and Belgium to do so.

The technology and service consortium HOPaS, comprising Techelec, Yuso, and Whitewood, will handle the investment, installation, and operation of the shore power solution at AET. The Port of Antwerp-Bruges will facilitate this rollout. The project includes two shore connections with a total capacity of 5MW, primarily for Grimaldi’s new ro-ro vessels. The project represents an investment of €25 to €30 million, with the Flemish agency for innovation granting a €4 million subsidy.

The shore power installation will utilise 100 percent green electricity, initially produced by three wind turbines on the terminal site operated by Wind aan de Stroom. Additional capacity will come from solar panels on the terminal’s multi-level parking garage roof and two more planned wind turbines. A large battery system will store the generated green energy, optimising its use.

For the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, shore power is integral to its environmental strategy. Numerous connection points for quayside electricity are already available for barges and tugs, with plans to extend this to cruise ships in Zeebrugge by 2026 and the largest container ships by 2028.

Annick De Ridder, president of the board of directors of the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, emphasised the importance of shore power in reducing emissions and supporting the port’s sustainable ambitions. Yves De Larivière, CEO of Antwerp Euroterminal, highlighted the significance of this step in enhancing the eco-friendly focus of AET and Grimaldi. Andrea D’Ambra of the Grimaldi Group underscored their commitment to decarbonisation, noting the project’s alignment with their “Zero Emission in Port” initiative. Nicolas Broos, a partner in the HOPaS consortium, echoed the sentiment, associating the project’s green energy focus with growth and renewal.