On 15th November ENGIMMONIA and SEANERGY projects organized an hybrid workshop to collect relevant insights for their project activities on the topic of EU ports readiness for Alternative Fuels.
The event has been hosted in Malmo by World Maritime University (from the SEANERGY consortium), co-organizer with University of Genova (ENGIMMONIA side) of the event.
The event has been divided in three main sessions:
- An introductory one with greetings and presentation from WMU ( Aykut I. Ölçer – WMU Director), ENGIMMONIA (Mr Andrea Pestarino – RINA Consulting) and SEANERGY (Prof. Fabio Ballini – WMU) projects, who presented their R&D activities and goals and how their targeting the promotion of alternative fuels for shipping and ports. Such session was wrapped up by Mr Jaap Gebraad who presented WATERBORNE perspective and the key role of ports in EU maritime decarbonization strategy. Ms Nicole Costa (SSPA) presented as well the importance of a proper integration of ports alternative fuel infrastructure with local energy grids, with a focus on cold-ironing and piers electrification and their impact on National/local electric distribution grids.
- In the second session, three EU ports shared their experience in promoting maritime transition to alternative fuels and how they are currently promoting innovative solutions to reduce emissions at port relevant.
- Dr Josep Sanz Argent, presented activities on-going in Valencia port, who is testing different solutions (from cold ironing, to the use of hydrogen fuelled operating vehicles for port services/operation) and promoting its own Renewable Energy production, also in the framework of relevant EU funded projects like EALING, H2PORTS, Green C Ports.
- Mr Malthe Mulvad from Copenhagen Malmö Port, presented how a trans-national port, operating in an area with high Renewable penetration, could become lighthouse for EU port decarbonization, as well as challenges in operating simultaneously in two different energy markets/grids/regulation.
- Mr Mario Franzone, presented the ambitious decarbonization strategy that the port of Genova is targeting also with the support of Italian Recovery Fund Programme, leveraging on-going experiences and investment in the use of LNG and port electrification. Mr Franzone presented Port of Genova role in ENGIMMONIA project too and how ports could provide relevant guidelines for on-board technological development to guarantee a proper infrastructural integration and deployment.
- The third session was dedicated to some brief working group tables, where event attendees could share suggestions/insights/Recommendations to the two projects about the following aspects:
1. The role of fuel/energy operator and fuel/energy grids manager in promoting ports energy transition (Infrastructure, fuel access easiness…)
2. The role of the port city (at citizens and politicians level) in promoting ports energy transition
3. The importance of clean multi-modal transport to promote port and maritime decarbonization
4. The role of ship owners and managers in promoting ports energy transition
The workshop has been the chance therefore to collect relevant insights for project R&D activities which will be wrapped up by UNIGE/WMU in two dedicate project reports.
Similar recommendations are currently collected by the two projects via two on-line surveys which have been launched in the framework of the event, which has been the first opportunity of cooperation of two projects aiming to promote EU port and shipping sector decarbonization.
First survay:
