The Port of Aarhus is to equip its container terminal with an onshore power plant, supplied by Danish PowerCon, and said to be the first of its kind in Denmark.
This follows a shore power facility opened at the port’s cruise terminal, which completed its first full year of operation in 2024, and at which 68% of the cruise ships docking there connected to shore power.
The facility for container ships, however, will be a little different. PowerCon will deliver a transformer station and power management system for the new facility, while Shibata Fender Team and Igus will supply a flexible cable system that can be moved around the quay to meet the ships’ needs. This setup will enable the facility to supply power to up to four container ships simultaneously when fully completed.
Anne Zachariassen, Port of Aarhus COO, said: “We are pleased that we can once again collaborate with PowerCon to establish a shore power facility. It will reduce both noise and local particle pollution caused by ships using diesel generators. This benefits both the residents of the surrounding area and the employees at the port.
Jacob Bjarkam, Head of Sales, PowerCon added: “The shore power facility at the container terminal is one of the most advanced projects in Europe. We are proud that PowerCon’s technology and expertise contribute to a vision that sets new standards for green port operations.”
Ports in Aarhus, Gothenburg, Bremerhaven, and Stockholm will all offer shore power for container ships by 2030 as part of the ‘OPS Network’ project. The project is supported by the EU fund ‘Connecting Europe Facilities’ with a grant of €18.8m.
Zachariassen said: “We are very pleased that the European Commission and the CEF Committee recognise our high ambitions for the green transition. As some of Northern Europe’s most important ports, it is fantastic that we can collaborate to reduce the shipping industry’s climate footprint—this is a global challenge we stand together to tackle. Shore power for container ships is a crucial part of this effort for all the involved ports.”
The shore power facility for container ships is expected to be completed in 2026.
Image: Aarhus container terminal will be equipped with shore power (source: Port of Aarhus)
