The Port of Helsinki is building a new onshore power connection for Stockholm traffic at the Olympia Terminal berth.
Onshore power supply makes it possible to reduce the climate emissions generated while ships are berthed in port by as much as 50-80 %, with the electricity being supplied from the shore eliminating the need to keep the auxiliary engines running to generate electricity. The new onshore power connections are expected to be put into service by the end of 2020.
This environmental investment will improve the air quality and reduce noise in the city. It is also an important step towards a carbon-neutral port by 2035 according CEO of the Port of Helsinki, Ville Haapasaari.
Even though the Port of Helsinki was among the first to be affected by the coronavirus pandemic, it considers the expansion of the onshore power supply to be a very important measure that the Port has no intention of delaying.
Among other things, the Olympia Terminal’s investment in onshore power supply includes automation engineering and technology, renovation of the existing transformer, quay construction and most significantly, the onshore power system and its installation. The total value of the investment for the port is roughly €1.8 million.
One medium-voltage cable that can be moved with a cable crane will be implemented at the South Harbour. It will be used to supply onshore power to ships. This requires the existing transformer to be adapted and the output of the electrical connection for the whole harbour area to be increased from 0.5 to 4 MW. The international standards on technical solutions for the implementation of onshore power supply are still lacking in part, which means that large investments must be customised according to the needs of each moment.
The electrical contract will be carried out by Electric Power Finland Oy, which will start work at the beginning of July. The new system is expected to the put in service by Christmas 2020, after a thorough testing phase.
After this new onshore power connection is completed, all the vessels that visit the centre of Helsinki on a daily basis and stay in the harbour for an extended period of time will be covered by onshore power supply. By investing in this berth, it will achieve the greatest relative impact on local climate emissions and noise, as well as carbon dioxide emissions which accelerate the climate change, Haapasaari said.
Onshore power connections are also being planned for the berths next to West Terminal 2 at the West Harbour. At present, these berths are being used for traffic with a short turnaround time, so the onshore power supply will primarily serve vessels that stay berthed overnight. Onshore power connections are also planned for Vuosaari Harbour and the cruise quays of Hernesaari. At Katajanokka Harbour, Viking Line’s M/S Gabriella and M/S Mariella have been using an onshore power connection since 2012.