Overview
The overall objective of this wider benefit MoS Action with the pilot component is the introduction of shore produced electricity and its use as a propulsion alternative for vessels in the South-East Mediterranean. In this manner shipping will access the more sustainable, greener sources of energy like renewables. The minimisation of emissions for a more sustainable and efficient transportation, addressing mobility and isolation barriers for remote communities, render this this effort a decisive step in setting the right technical specifications and study the available, proven technology in order to proceed with specific applications by 2020 and beyond.
The specific objective of the Action is to analyse and assess all necessary requirements for facilitating the introduction of cold ironing in three ports of the South East Mediterranean area: Port of Piraeus (Greece), Port of Killini (Greece) and Port of Limassol (Cyprus). A pilot testing of cold ironing and electrification on a real vessel will be carried out in the Port of Killini.
More specifically the Action will review worldwide cold ironing case studies (Juneau and Los Angeles in US, Gothenburg in Sweden etc.) in addition to the impact of installing energy storage devices for peak smoothening (such as flow batteries or other alternatives). Moreover, the installation of cold ironing facilities in the four ports will be assessed and a modern regulatory framework to tackle barriers and encourage the wide use of Cold Ironing will be formulated.
The Action will assess the right technical specifications and prerequisites to the wide introduction of electricity as an alternative propulsive energy. In a tangible outcome, the project will assess the mature technology and the types of ships and sea connections that could primarily benefit from this development. It will furthermore analyse a Ro-Pax ferry design using electric propulsion through a battery installation to the extent of technical specification, operating profile and carrying capacity. Such will be able to function in all electric or hybrid mode ranging from total extinction of emissions to exceeding emission control requirements at all times in operation.
Moreover, the Action will evaluate the environmental impact of implementing cold ironing (assessing the current status of environmental pollution due to ships vs. the status when cold ironing is implemented), the impact on the electric grids of the three countries participating in the project (capacity and expandability aspects) and the effect on the development of the corridor ports and their broader areas. Safety, commercial and regulatory aspects will also be analysed through the implementation of the Action.
The Action is a project of common interest addressing the Horizontal Priority Motorways of the Sea. It relates to the Orient/East-Med Corridor. It is consistent with TEN-T objectives and priorities as it promotes the use of alternative and in particular, low or zero carbon energy sources. In terms of EU added value, the Action will explore the potential of changing the use of energy sources in maritime transportation leading to the sustainability of maritime links in South Eastern Mediterranean. The Action is twinned with Action 2015-EU-TM-0236-S which will focus on the same objectives with the participation of the port of Koper (Slovenia) as beneficiary. Activities in both parts need to be completed in order to secure the payment of the CEF grant. The Agency reserves the right to reduce or discontinue the co-financing in case of a lack of implementation in any of the two projects constituting two integral parts of the same study.