Large vessels to connect to shore power at Europa Terminal starting in 2026

30 September 2024 - PSA Antwerp today announced, via a Formal Investment Decision (FID) to the Flemish Agency for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (VLAIO), that the Europa Terminal in the Port of Antwerp will be equipped with an advanced shore power installation by 2026.

With a power capacity of 7.5 megawatts, up to 100 berthed container ships per year will be able to draw green shore power. This will enable an annual CO2 reduction of up to 10,309 tons* starting in 2026. "Once again, we are proving that sustainability is a top priority for us," said Jurgen De Wachter, General Manager of PSA Antwerp's container business. The project will cost around €10 million, with up to €4 million subsidized by the Flemish Agency for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (VLAIO) through the EU's REpowerEU initiative.

Ships, even when docked, still consume energy (for lighting, heating, and cooling), which is typically generated by engines running on fuel oil, diesel, or other fossil fuels. From 2026, ships docking at the Europa Terminal will be able to switch to electricity from the high-voltage grid via the shore power installation, eliminating the need to generate their own power with onboard engines. The result: lower emissions of CO2, nitrogen, and particulate matter. With the planned shore power installation for the Europa Terminal, PSA Antwerp will be the first container terminal in the Port of Antwerp to offer shore power. This realization is part of Project Emerald.

Project Emerald

Project Emerald, a collaboration between PSA Belgium and the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, focuses on the large-scale renewal of the Europa Terminal. This includes both the construction of a new quay wall with greater depth (by the Port of Antwerp-Bruges) and the modernization of the terminal itself (by PSA Antwerp). These efforts will not only make the terminal capable of handling mega-ships and increasing capacity but will also significantly contribute to the transition to a climate-neutral port. The renovation, which will take place in three phases, is expected to result in a more efficient and sustainable container terminal. By 2032, the terminal should be fully operational again, with an impressive capacity of 2.5 million TEU.

One of the key components of the first phase, expected to be completed by 2026, is the implementation of the shore power installation. This installation is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 10,000 tons annually, the equivalent of the yearly emissions of around 625 average households in Europe.

To realize the project, PSA Antwerp is also investing in upgrading the high-voltage grid connection and training personnel specializing in shore power. The shore power installation will include a mobile connection point, allowing PSA Antwerp to supply power to ships at different locations along the quay. 100% green energy will be used, as all electricity consumed by PSA in Belgium has been sourced from green energy since 2017.

Building expertise

Through this project, PSA Antwerp strengthens its expertise and consolidates its leading position in sustainable port operations. "PSA is a company that invests in a sustainable future, and this shore power installation is yet another proof of that," said Jurgen De Wachter.

*Calculation based on ships per year with shore power, average power per ship at the quay (MW), time at the quay, total energy consumption at the quay per ship (MWh), total energy consumption at the quay per year (MWh), and total CO2 emissions at the quay per year.