Power Barge SIF
Sustainable Ships developed a scalable, mobile shore power solution with battery storage (power barge) for SIF
Sustainable Ships developed a mobile shore power solution - the power barge - to provide terminal owners and port authorities a flexible shore power solution. The power barge is easily scalable and deployable in many situations and locations around the world. The work was carried out in close collaboration with Greenovate, combining Sustainable Ships’ expertise in maritime decarbonisation, shore power systems, and regulatory modelling with Greenovate’s experience in energy systems and sustainability strategy.
As part of the development, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with SIF was signed. Sif operates a large industrial terminal at Maasvlakte 2 in Rotterdam and plays a key role in the European offshore wind and energy transition supply chain. As part of its ESG ambitions and alignment with UN Sustainable Development Goal 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), Sif investigated alternatives to conventional fixed shore power infrastructure. The joint study explored whether a mobile shore power solution with integrated battery storage could offer a more flexible, scalable, and future-proof approach to reducing emissions from seagoing vessels calling at the terminal.
As a result of this cooperation, a comprehensive techno-economic business case to assess the technical, financial, and regulatory feasibility of a mobile shore power concept was made. The analysis resulted in an interactive tool that evaluates system configuration, operational use cases, cost structure, and compliance implications under FuelEU Maritime and the EU ETS.
Key highlights
Client was SIF, a terminal operators and can potentially include port authorities requiring flexible shore power solutions
Problem was the intermittent use of OPS at the quayside, requiring a flexible, floating energy storage solution for use in port environments
Ship types considered were large offshore construction vessels and feedermax containerships (~ 2,000 TEU)
FEED Studies
Interactive tool
Artist impressions
This case study evaluates a mobile shore power battery barge designed for an offshore construction vessel in the Port of Rotterdam. An average power demand of 2.4 MW and a peak demand of 5 MW is assumed. This results in the requirement of twelve 20-ft containerized batteries integrated into a High Voltage Shore Connection (HVSC) system. Total costs of the power barge are estimated at $9.5M with a yearly revenue of approx. $2.5M.