Hong Kong shipping firm Wah Kwong Maritime Transport has teamed up with a European partner to build shoreside power-supply projects in China and North Asia to capture opportunities from tightening emission regulations at ports.
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Wah Kwong last month formed a 50-50 joint venture with NatPower Marine, a developer of maritime energy-transition projects that is part of Luxembourg-based renewable energy firm NatPower Group.
The venture aims to form partnerships to build and operate grid-connected infrastructure at ports in North Asia, equipping them to provide electricity to docked vessels. This allows ships to shut off their diesel engines and generators while at berth, as well as charge up batteries for near-shore propulsion.
“Our objective is to create power-supply points in 120 marine locations and form a global network,” said Stefano Sommadossi, CEO of NatPower Marine UK. “As some 80 per cent of global merchandise trade originates from Asia and Europe, we aim to create green corridors.”
On September 15, NatPower Marine said it would embark on £250 million (US$336 million) of shore-side power supply infrastructure projects at UK ports over the next five years.
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Starting from 2030, European Union regulations mandate the use of onshore power or alternative zero-emission technologies at certain ports. It will become mandatory at all EU ports that have onshore power facilities from 2035.