Gothenburg, the headquarters of Stena Line and also the largest port in Scandinavia, is where a pilot project, now in its final phase, is using a hydrogen generator to supply electricity to ships docked in port.
The hydrogen generator, which is housed in a quayside container, is being tested at the Port of Gothenburg. It was developed by Hitachi Energy, whose technology partner is the PowerCell Group, which supplies the generator’s power modules and expertise in fuel cell integration. During the test, the generator used 100% green hydrogen supplied by gas producer Linde Gas.
The method may pave the way forward to reduced emissions at the West Sweden port and others where conventional shore power connections are not feasible.
Powering ships with electricity instead of using their conventional engines while berthed in port can save large amounts of carbon dioxide emissions. According to a report from the European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS), between 6 and 7% of carbon dioxide emissions from the shipping sector are generated while ships are docked at ports within the European Economic Area (EEA).
The first facilities for connecting ships to shore-side electricity—known as On-shore Power Supply (OPS)—were installed in the early 2000s at the Port of Gothenburg. At that time, the OPS facilities at Stena Line’s neighboring terminals on the River Göta were for Germany (Kiel) and Denmark (Frederikshavn) traffic, which were among the first of their kind in the world.
Since then numerous other ports in the EU and across the globe have not come as far and often lack the necessary prerequisites. The OPS systems require significant investment as well as a robust underlying electrical infrastructure in the ports.
An alternative solution in such ports is needed. This requires the use of mobile hydrogen generators with the white container (as above), currently being tested at Stena Line’s Germany terminal, and this may offer the ferry company a promising way forward.
As part of a two-week pilot project, a hydrogen-powered generator has been connected to Stena Line’s existing shore power facility at Gothenburg. Using green hydrogen as fuel, the generator has supplied electricity to the cruise ferries when berthed. Afloat highlights are the cruise-ferries Stena Germanica (built 2001/44,372 gross tons) and Stena Scandinavica (2003/55,050gt), which operate on the Sweden-Germany route, which takes 14 hours.
"At Stena Line, we are eager to collaborate to test new technologies aimed at reducing emissions from our industry. This project shows that there are alternative solutions for ports that lack the infrastructure for shore power," says Anders Peterson, Group Head of Port Development & Engineering at Stena Line.
In 2030, a new EU regulation will come into effect requiring container and passenger vessels to use OPS while at berth. According to a study by ICCT, this is expected to reduce emissions by just over one million tons of carbon dioxide per year. According to Viktor Allgurén, Head of Innovation at the Port of Gothenburg, hydrogen could help ports meet these requirements:
Hydrogen as a fuel has a range of potential applications in a port context, as Gothenburg has a hydrogen refueling station. This is used for trucks, and hydrogen-powered work vehicles are currently being tested. Such technology is also in the current OPS trial, has also recently been used in the port by Skanska to power heavy machinery in a major terminal expansion project.
