When a ship docks, it no longer needs energy for propulsion. However, ships may still be large consumers of energy when stationary as several of the ship functions are still operating. This includes ventilation/heating/cooling, pumps, control systems and cargo handling systems. Consequently, the generators are running when in port, resulting in local noise and air emissions as well as global climate driving emission. Rather than letting the generators on board make the electricity this
can come from shore power.Applicability and assumptionsShore power can be installed for all types of vessel and for all ages with need for power in harbour, and has been used for years especially for smaller vessels, but also some larger passenger vessels. For smaller vessels to draw power from the land based mains supply when docked is not a new phenomenon. Shore power has been used extensively for many years for vessels with moderate power requirements; typically less than 50 to 100 kW. These vessels are capable of making use of normal grid voltage and frequency, and replace the energy from the generators with the shore power with only marginal investments. For the larger vessels with higher power requirements (100 kW up to 10 to 15 MW) it gets a bit more complicated. To serve these vessels with shore power, dedicated and relatively costly installations are required, both on land and on board the vessels. This may include upgrading the grid capacity, frequency converters and complex high power connectors. Consequently, relatively few vessels and ports are capable of making use of shore power, even though the environmental upsides are considerable. Still, cold ironing may be regarded as a mature technology that has been in regular use since the 1980s. Shore power may potentially eliminate the local noise and air pollution related to ship activity in a port. Depending on the energy source, it may also contribute positively to the climate driving effects of ship operation, but as an isolated initiative, it is generally not considered to be among the most cost effective climate initiatives. On the land side, the high power cold ironing system consists of the following:
Table 1 – Typical system specs for the different power requirements
Table 2 – Typical system requirements for different ship types and sizes
Cost of implementationTable 3 – Estimated cost for implementing shore power on board vessels
The cost of adapting a vessel for shore connection depends on the plant design and the possibility of varying the voltage and frequency range when needed. Further, it is important to consider that these costs are only for the vessel, not for the implementation at the port side. Reduction potentialThe reduction potential is 50% to 100% in port for the electrical motors on board. *This Information Portal is still under development and further images will be added. For suggestions and additional technologies to be included in the Information Portal, please use the GloMEEP PCU Contact Form. This Energy Efficiency Technologies Information Portal was developed in cooperation with DNV GL. This webpage serves as an Information Portal for Energy Efficiency Technologies for Ships. IMO does not make any warranties or representations as to the accuracy or completeness of the information provided. View our disclaimer |