The EU’s TEN-T Programme will support with €3.1 million a project to test energy-efficient and emission-reducing equipment in the ports of Valencia (Spain) and Livorno (Italy). The project aims to establish examples of best practice in smart energy management and in use of alternative fuel in European ports.
The European project consortium led by Valenciaport Foundation plans to pilot nine real-life trials of last generation port container machinery and energy management systems to reduce pollutant carbon emissions and to increase the energy efficiency in both ports.
Specifically, the two year-long initiative will focus on implementing a smart energy management system including dynamic (on-demand) lighting for the whole container terminal and on adapting equipment such as cranes and tractors to alternative fuels such as natural gas and electricity.
The new system is expected to reduce significantly the current energy consumption in the port container terminals. For example, the piloted crane could use up to 50% less fuel than a standard full diesel crane, and the dynamic lighting could reduce the energy consumption at the port by 30%.
Terberg CC/YT222 Container Carrier (4×2) with Cummins ISL G 250 CNG engine
Project partcipants include Noatum Ports SLU and Terberg Benschop B.V. which were involved in TEN=T’s Greencranes project. The project included investigation and implementation of trials for CNG-powered terminal tractors. Terberg has also developed a CNG-powered container carrier.
The pilot results will be made public in five communication events organised throughout the duration of the project. In addition, standards and policy recommendations based on the project results will be defined to encourage the adoption of these technologies by a critical mass of port container terminals in the EU.
The project (2013-EU-92058-S) was selected for €3.1 million funding with the assistance of external experts under the TEN-T Annual Call 2013, priority ‘Measures to promote innovation and new technologies for transport infrastructure’. Its implementation will be monitored by INEA, the European Commission’s Innovation and Networks Executive Agency.
The project is to be completed by December 2015.
(Source: INEA)
