EU provides financial backing for onshore power generation in ports: Bremerhaven secured over €5 million
The shipping industry is set for a significant transformation, with a focus on new drives and renewable energies to make it climate-neutral. This global challenge, as noted by Senator Vogt, does not stop at national borders, and Bremenports in Bremerhaven is leading the charge in Germany.
Bremenports CEO Robert Howe has announced ambitious plans to achieve CO2 neutrality in the Overseas Port of Bremerhaven by 2035. To facilitate this, the port authority has secured a 18.8 million euro support from the EU funding programme "Connecting Europe Facilities" for the supply of seagoing ships with shore power. This support will enable the four ports to supply container ships with shore power by 2030, reducing the need for fossil fuels during their stay at equipped berths.
Around 5 million euros of the support will go to Bremerhaven specifically, corresponding to approximately 50% of the costs of a single shore power connection. The expansion of shore power connections is an important step towards achieving CO2 neutrality, and it is expected to reduce CO2 emissions from this project by up to 35,000 tonnes per year.
In Bremerhaven, plans are being prepared for the implementation of two new mobile and one stationary shore power facility at the container jetty, and one each at the cruise terminal and the car harbour. These facilities, designed by Bremenports, can supply container, cruise ships, or car carriers with power consumption equivalent to a small town with several thousand inhabitants.
Bremenports is part of broader international collaborations focused on sustainable port operations and logistics efficiency. The reduction of the shipping industry's climate footprint requires international cooperation, and the EU funding for the expansion of shore power connections is seen as a win for everyone, as it accelerates and expands environmental initiatives. All port neighbours are currently working together to develop measures that make this goal possible.
International cooperation is essential for achieving these goals, and the success of Bremenports in securing the EU funding is a testament to this. The funding will not only help Bremerhaven but also contribute to the broader goal of making the shipping industry climate-neutral. Senator for the Ports, Kristina Vogt, expressed delight at the joint success of the four major North Sea ports in securing the EU funding. She emphasised the importance of such collaborations in achieving a sustainable future for the shipping industry.
- Robert Howe, the CEO of Bremenports, has announced plans to make the Overseas Port of Bremerhaven CO2 neutral by 2035, aiding this effort with a 18.8 million euro support from the EU funding program "Connecting Europe Facilities" for the supply of seagoing ships with shore power.
- The expansion of shore power connections at Bremerhaven is a significant step towards environmental-science goals, as it's expected to reduce CO2 emissions from this project by up to 35,000 tonnes annually. This reduction aligns with Senator Vogt's focus on addressing climate-change issues, which does not stop at national borders.
- The shipping industry's financial sector should take note of the collaboration between Bremenports and the EU, as the investment in renewable energies for climate-neutral transportation reinforces the connection between finance and the environmental-science industry. Such international cooperation is vital for achieving climate-neutrality in the shipping sector.
