Shore power for container ships

The Port of Aarhus is taking a significant step towards sustainability and CO₂ reduction:
By installing a modern shore power supply for container ships, the environmental impact of Denmark’s largest commercial and industrial port will be significantly reduced in the coming years. Inros Lackner has taken on the planning and tendering for this pioneering project and is advising the client on its realisation. The project will be realised in two phases by 2030, with the aim of meeting international standards and ensuring maximum flexibility in the energy supply for the ships.

The shore power system will be one of the most advanced facilities in Europe for container ships. In future, vessels will be able to switch off their diesel generators while berthed in the port and use sustainable shore power supplied with green electricity. The system will be able to supply up to five container ships with electricity at the same time. As part of the “OPS Network” project, which also includes other European ports such as Gothenburg, Bremerhaven, and Stockholm, further locations will be retrofitted with shore power facilities by 2030. The project is supported by the EU “Connecting Europe Facility” fund with a grant of €18.8 million.

“The shore power project in Aarhus is an excellent example of the productive and trusting collaboration we always strive for with our clients. With a clear focus on sustainability, we actively contribute to the decarbonisation of container shipping. It is fantastic to see how our design solutions help make the shipping industry more environmentally friendly.”
— Tobias Günzl, Head of Hydraulic Engineering

Project status and progress
The tendering procedures for the main components of the shore power system were completed in December 2024. The contracts for the shore power supply were awarded to PowerCon A/S, while SFT/IGUS is responsible for the cable management system. The first phase of the project, budgeted at around €12 million, has already commenced and is scheduled for completion by 2026. The expansion phase is planned through to 2030.