PNNL

Ports are critical nodes to international supply chains and are essential for efficient movement of goods and military readiness in times of crisis. Transportation systems are diversifying their energy mix due to cost pressures, regulatory requirements, and operational efficiency. As a result, ports are increasingly becoming critical regional energy hubs where multiple travel modes and energy carriers intersect. This transition presents both significant opportunities for port electrification, such as vessel shore power, and challenges for port operations, infrastructure spending, and energy production and delivery.

These interconnected complexities necessitate cutting-edge research to ensure U.S. ports remain competitive and resilient in the evolving energy landscape. Energy decisions will significantly influence financial performance, transportation choices, workforce dynamics, and the regional economy. Strategically developing energy infrastructure at U.S. ports can have far-reaching impacts on adjacent operations and the wider region.

The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is a leader in multiple areas of port electrification and energy innovation research related to maritime ports, inland ports, and airports. Researchers at PNNL have partnered with ports, utilities, tenants, and other stakeholders to test port electrification research in real-world settings and implement innovative energy concepts to help achieve port and national energy goals. Port energy research covers traditional and emerging energy options, including electrification, vessel shore power, hydrogen and hydrogen carriers, bioenergy, and other alternative fuels. PNNL-Sequim is the Department of Energy’s only coastal sciences research facility, where researchers can test and implement innovative energy technologies in a marine environment.

Key research capabilities:

• Strategic Energy Planning – Evaluate and outline how innovative energy technologies, such as vessel shore power, could support port-specific energy goals.
• Critical Infrastructure Analysis – Identify potential threats and vulnerabilities to critical port infrastructure and opportunities to reduce risk.
• Technoeconomic Analysis – Quantify costs and benefits for planning scenarios and technology deployment options.
• Energy Optimization – Compare investments in multiple energy choices to optimize choices based on port values, such as cost and resilience.
• Technology Validation – Use PNNL tools and equipment to assess performance of innovative energy technologies.

For more information on PNNL’s Maritime Energy Innovation program, contact us using the form below.

The Maritime Energy Innovation team at PNNL works in close collaboration with researchers across multiple disciplines. The team is dedicated to advancing scientific discoveries that are crucial for fueling the U.S. economy, with a specific focus on the maritime sector.

Staff members at PNNL are open to collaborations on new or existing projects. Please see our research capabilities and case studies for examples of our work.