Europe’s ports release study on the impact of the changing energy landscape on port infrastructure and operations
On Friday 3 June, the ESPO-EFIP study on the implications of the changing energy landscape on Europe’s ports was released and presented at ESPO’s Annual Conference in Valencia, according to EFIP's release.
The aim of the study is to draw a comprehensive picture of the impact of the energy transition on Europe’s ports, in particular in terms of spatial planning and infrastructure needs, as well as on the role of the port managing bodies. The report comprehensively analyses the impact of the different studied developments with regards to the linked supply chains, connectivity needs and capacity requirements. The study includes different scenarios, including ports as new entrants in the energy business and or as conventional energy ports which faces different challenges to convert into a green energy hub. Taking into account the wide diversity of ports, the port analyses the best profiles for each possible pathway or port development.
With this study the European Sea Ports Organisation and the European Federation of Inland Ports aim to increase knowledge and awareness of the various impacts that the energy transition has on ports and the different roles port managing bodies can take up.
The study has been commissioned to Royal HaskoningDHV. The consultants assessed the impact of the energy transition on ports and port managing bodies through 17 factsheets on specific aspects of the energy transition. The factsheets are divided over three layers.
The first layer contains the measures aimed at reducing carbon emissions within the port. These include operations under the responsibility of the port managing body but also operations of shipping lines and terminal operators. The second layer focuses on the energy transition in the wider port area. This entails activities closely linked to the port: industrial clusters, linkages between the port and nearby urban areas, and connected offshore activities. The third layer considers the significance of ports in the energy transition for the wider economy and community.
