A trio of German companies have been testing a shore side power concept that uses LNG to cut down on ship emissions while alongside.
Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA) has been trialing the system, developed by Becker Marine Systems, in partnership Hapag-Lloyd.
The concept uses a gas-powered generator and an LNG tank, which provides the energy for the generator, all fitted within two 40-foot containers.
Germany’s Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure awarded a “seven-figure sum” to fund the development of the new technology as part of the government’s mobility and fuel strategy.
“As soon as a container ship docks, a container gantry crane lifts the mobile 1.5-megawatt power generator from the quay into position at the stern of the ship,” said HHLA.
“Once there, it is connected to the ship’s power system and can supply the electricity needed for on-board operations while the ship is docked.
“Thanks to this innovation, harmful emissions such as the sulphur dioxide, particulate matter and nitrous oxides that would normally be generated while the ship is running on auxiliary diesel can be either reduced significantly or avoided entirely.”
Technology supplier Becker Marine Systems developed the mobile power generator, then partnered with Hapag-Lloyd and HHLA for the test phase.
Over the past few weeks, a prototype has been successfully tested “multiple times” with some of Hapag-Lloyd’s 20,000-teu container ships, the port operator said.
Dirk Lehmann, managing director at Becker Marine Systems, said: “We can safely say that the pilot phase was a complete success, and we thank our partners for the great teamwork.
“The Becker LNG PowerPac represents a straightforward solution for the reduction of harmful emissions in the port and has the potential to be implemented internationally.”
Lehmann said the company is in conversation with “a variety of European and Chinese ports” about using the concept elsewhere.
Anthony Firmin, executive board member for shipping at Hapag-Lloyd, said the shipowner was “more than happy” to support the tests.
“Shoreside power is an important component in our extensive efforts to make our business even more sustainable,” he added.
