ABB to build major shore power system in Rotterdam port

ABB has won a tender to deliver shore power solutions at three deep sea container terminals in the port of Rotterdam.

Rotterdam Shore Power, a joint venture between Port of Rotterdam Authority and Eneco, has chosen ABB to install the solutions at APM Terminals Maasvlakte II, Hutchison Ports ECT Delta and Hutchison Ports ECT Euromax. 

A total of 8km of quay will get shore power, with 35 different connection points available for seagoing container ships while loading and unloading. Each of the three terminals will get a dedicated shore power installation, organised in separate projects with their own contracts for construction and operations.

The contracts awarded to ABB consist of detailed engineering and construction of the installations, as well as multi-year maintenance contracts per terminal. 

Construction at the three terminals is expected to start in the second half of next year and ABB will work simultaneously on all three container terminals with the goal of them being able to accommodate vessels with shore power from the second half of 2028.

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Rune Braastad, President of ABB’s Marine & Ports division, said: “This large-scale, multi-installation project for Rotterdam Shore Power demonstrates ABB’s expertise in delivering shore power from concept to connection. 

“Our efficient, proven end-to-end solutions cover everything from design and commissioning to maintenance and support, while minimizing disruption to operations during the installation phase. We are proud to contribute to the Port of Rotterdam’s decarbonisation journey in what represents a significant step towards realizing the EU’s ambition for emission-free ports.”

Shore power in Rotterdam

The projects to deliver green electricity to ships mooring at the three deep sea container terminals together comprise the largest shore power installations in the world at the moment, says the partners in a release, with a total power of more than 100MVA. 

ABB’s shore-to-ship power solutions enable container terminals to supply vessels directly from the port grid, reducing emissions, noise, and fuel costs. 

In Rotterdam, ABB will instal tens of kilometers of high, medium and low voltage cables, and fiberglass cables, as well as converter stations so that both ECT and APMT will be able to have shore power available to ships at their terminals.

For the Port of Rotterdam, the largest port in Europe, shore power is seen as an important part of the energy transition. 

Moored vessels at the quay leave their generators running for the electricity needed on board. The engines make noise and emit particulate matter, nitrogen and CO2 among others. In this context, shore power offers the possibility to considerably reduce that by supplying vessels with clean electricity from the grid.

By 2030, the Municipality of Rotterdam and Port of Rotterdam Authority want a large proportion of the sea-going vessels to be ‘plugged in’ when they stay at the quay.