By
Alex Smith |
The Port of Kiel has officially inaugurated its new Ostseekai shore power plant, which is expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 8,000 tonnes a year.
Bernd Buchholz, minister of economics, transport, labour and technology and tourism for the State of Schleswig-Holstein, and Bernd Bucholz, the Lord-Mayor of Kiel, officially commissioned the plant in a ceremony that was also attended by Michael Thamm, CEO of Costa Group, and Dirk Claus, managing director of the Port of Kiel. The state government supported the €13.5 million ($16.1 million) project with funding of €9 million, and successfully lobbied the German federal government for a reduction of the tariffs for onshore power required by the Renewable Energy Act.
"Today we are taking a big step in making maritime shipping in Schleswig-Holstein even more eco-friendly,” said Bucholz. "With this investment, which now enables shore power supply at a total of three locations in Kiel, the seaport should also be very far ahead in international comparison. The plant will save thousands of tonnes of carbon dioxide and thus relieve the people in the state capital considerably."
The State of Schleswig-Holstein, the city of Kiel, the Port of Kiel and the Costa Group signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2018 on the joint promotion of eco-friendly cruise tourism in Kiel.
"Sustainability, regional value creation and innovation are the focus of our actions,” said Thamm. “I am firmly convinced that this form of cooperation will have an effect on other ports in Europe."
The plant can provide 16 megawatts of power, enabling it to supply a cruise ship at the Ostseekai terminal and Stena Line ferries at the Schwedenkai quay in combination with electricity produced from hydropower. After a successful integration test, AIDAsol was the first cruise ship to be connected to the shore power supply system, while Stena Line ferries are being supplied with power daily. It is estimated that for every cruise ship supplied by the facility, an extra 45 tonnes of carbon dioxide will be saved. A total of 70 cruise calls are scheduled for its first full year of operation.
Siemens supplied the core electrical and electronic elements of the plant, consisting of convertors, medium-voltage switchgear, automation and an energy monitoring system.
"I would like to thank the State of Schleswig-Holstein and the EU for their financial support for the construction of the shore power plant,” said Claus. "I am pleased that the power plant has also been designed in an architecturally outstanding way. My thanks go to the architects, construction companies, façade builders and lighting designers."