PNNL

The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is developing a Port Electrification Handbook—a reference to aid maritime ports nationwide in their clean energy transition. In April 2024, PNNL is collaborating with Guiding Port Partners and maritime professionals to inform the handbook’s development and in late 2024 the handbook will be published.

What will the Port Electrification Handbook cover? This will be decided based on feedback from our port survey, Guiding Port Partners, and maritime industry professionals. As outlined currently, handbook topics include:

•  Port Electrification Overview–considerations, challenges, and benefits, market trends, and policy considerations
• Microgrids–the role of microgrids at ports, microgrid configurations and considerations, including the role of independent and networked microgrids
• Electrification technologies–shore power, hybrid and electric port equipment, charging and fueling infrastructure, energy storage options, and V2X capabilities
• Alternative-fuel vehicles, vessels, and associated supportive infrastructure
• Port renewable energy options including solar, wind, and marine energy
• Planning and design considerations
• Addressing cybersecurity and resiliency in port energy transitions
• Case studies, including technoeconomic analysis, highlighting challenges and potential solutions to port electrification for Port Guiding Partners and others.

Notice something missing from our list? Please provide feedback to Shannon Idso (shannon.idso@pnnl.gov).

Why is electrification planning important to ports? Over the next decades, the maritime industry will undergo an unprecedented energy transition. Maritime activities underpin the U.S. and global economy, currently at significant environmental cost. Such activities account for approximately 3% of global carbon emissions[1] and release harmful pollutants into the environment that inequitably impact nearby communities. Decarbonizing port activities (e.g., vessels, port infrastructure, shore-side transportation) is necessary to achieve the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) goal of carbon neutrality in global shipping by 2050. Port decarbonization is also necessary to prepare U.S. seaports to withstand the impacts of climate change while advancing environmental justice. The federal government has committed to investing over $20 billion[2] to support port infrastructure and waterway improvements, including decarbonization, which offers an unprecedented opportunity to decarbonize over the coming years. The Port Electrification Handbook aims to create a resource for ports and maritime professionals to aid their energy transitions while addressing potential equity, security, and resiliency impacts.

Why microgrids? A microgrid is a self-contained power grid that can operate independently or connected to the power grid to improve customer reliability, better resilience, fuel efficiency, longer runtimes, and affordability. Microgrids are a key technology for port electrification because they can provide reliable, clean electricity to ports even in the event of a grid-scale outage, and they can be designed and managed to meet each port’s unique energy demands.

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