When ships are in port, they still need electricity and typically burn their on-board bunker fuels, also known as heavy fuel oils. But the port in Hamburg is now offering a much cleaner alternative: Shore power significantly reduces a ship’s emissions while in port.

Shore power uses the public grid to provide electricity to ships while they are in port. Ideally, the grid supplies green energy that covers the high electricity requirements of large container ships and ferries, allowing them to switch off their diesel generators. These cause high levels of air pollution and noise emissions. But since ships cannot yet be electric, too many of them continue to rely on their diesel generators.

To achieve emission-free laytime, Hamburg is pioneering this special applications. The first system has been in operation at the Altona cruise terminal for five years, supplying cruise ships. At the time, this was one of the first systems of its kind in Europe. Now, more and more ports are offering shore power connections for seagoing vessels. This kind of electricity is often more expensive than fossil fuels, but it excels at providing clean energy for vessels that guzzle up between 7 and 11 Megawatt every hour.

Shore power for all major berths by 2030

Shore power is key for better air quality in cities and especially around port areas, which are often notoriously polluted. It avoids the emission of harmful pollutants like nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide, greenhouse gases, and particulate matter. In addition, it helps reduce the reliance on fossil fuels. The Port of Hamburg has the goal of being climate neutral by 2040, which involves ambitious emission reduction targets under the Clean Air Plan.

Now, a broader range of shore-side electricity will support these goals. Supported by federal funds, Hamburg is expanding its shore-side electricity infrastructure for large seagoing vessels and for inland waterway vessels. This is based on the administrative agreement on the construction of shore-side power facilities from November 2020, in which Germany’s federal government has promised to provide states with financial aid for constructing shore-side power facilities in sea and inland ports.

At the moment, the Hamburg Port Authority is working on equipping its large container terminals Burchardkai, Eurogate, and Tollerort with innovative shore power systems. In addition, two other cruise terminals in Steinwerder and HafenCity will receive powerful systems, as well as the state-of-the-art Altenwerder container terminal. By 2030, the Port of Hamburg aims to equip all major berths with demand-oriented shore-side power infrastructure.

Growing shore power infrastructure for container vessels

The latest advance in Hamburg is an agreement between the Port of Hamburg and the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) to supply MSC cargo ships with shore power. This makes it the first company to use this renewable energy source for both cruise ships and container ships. The Port of Hamburg is expecting other shipping companies to follow with similar agreements soon.

In 2024, the newest plant at the Hamburg Container Terminal opened. It has three connection points, each offering an output of 7.5 megavolt amperes. They all use 100 per cent renewable energy. The total cost of the plant is around 14 million euros, financed equally by the city of Hamburg and the federal government. It is the city’s first shore power system for container ships

Already, the city’s port authority has agreements on the use of shore power with the Carnival Group and the shipping companies TUI Cruises, Fred Olsen, Princess Cruises, Phoenix Reisen and Norwegian Cruise Line. In April 2024, a new shore power system for cruise ships started operating at the Cruise Center Steinwerder. A new terminal for cruise boats in HafenCity is under construction. It will be equipped with shore power from the outside and will likely be completed in 2025.

Making ports more attractive

Hamburg is one of the most proactive cities in advancing shore power for seagoing vessels. The city is setting up the technology on land, but importantly, it also needs ships that use electricity from renewable sources. Not every large ship is equipped with the corresponding technology. Similarly, it is important to work with shipping companies that are willing to create the necessary conditions. According to the port authority, the city is in “good discussions with the customers of the Port of Hamburg”.

For now, shipping agents don’t have to turn off their diesel engines while docked in the port. Since shore power is typically more expensive than using the onboard generators, the decision for cleaner energy lies with the shipping company. However, from 2030, it will likely be mandatory in all of Europe. Cities such as Los Angeles show how this could work: There, ships have had to use shore power since 2014, similarly to some ports in Asia.

Already, Hamburg is sending a clear signal for environmental protection. It is also increasing the attractiveness of its port, given the growing global demand for climate-neutral and environmentally friendly logistics chains. Let’s hope that by 2030, both the port and its customers will be ready to go 100 per cent green.

Read more: For now, it is not feasible to make large container and cruise vessels electric. But there is already a zero-emission super yacht.