Cook Strait ferries berthed at Wellington’s Kings Wharf will soon be able to turn their diesel engines and generators off by plugging into electric shore power instead.
The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) has granted CentrePort $500,000 in co-funding towards the project in partnership with StraitNZ Bluebridge.
Solar panels for the project’s microgrid will arrive by mid-2024 with shore power expected to be ready at King’s Wharf by 2025, as the other equipment required will take some time to arrive in New Zealand.
By enabling shore-based power to ferries moored at King’s Wharf, vessels will still maintain power to their onboard systems while reducing transport emissions and improving air quality around Wellington’s inner-harbour.
Shore power infrastructure also has the potential to increase Wellington’s future energy resilience, as electricity generated by ferries could flow back to shore to support lifeline utilities in emergency situations.
CentrePort chief executive Anthony Delaney says the port is targeting net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040.
“We’re really proud to partner with StraitNZ to create shore power at King’s Wharf and to receive this support from the EECA.
“We’ve made great strides towards net-zero already, with a verified 31% reduction in emissions from our 2019 baseline, in part through a finance arrangement with New Zealand Green Investment Finance (NZGIF).”
”A critical part of making shore power available to customers is for CentrePort to generate and store energy,” Delaney says.
“To enable this, we are building the CentrePort MicroGrid, which will combine embedded generation and storage on port, with capacity from an electrical connection to the Wellington grid.
“This means our microgrid could increase Wellington’s energy resilience, as power may have the potential to flow in either direction,” he says.
“We are focused on enabling our customers and supply chains to lower their emissions and increase their resilience. Shore power at King’s Wharf is our first step towards providing shore power connections for our other customers.”
Delaney says measuring the benefits of the technology is a core way that CentrePort can support its customers.
”We’re committed to providing certified measurement of emissions reduction within the supply chain.
“Our microgrid will also insulate our customers from energy price disruptions and supply uncertainty, as well as reduce CentrePort’s annual energy bill.
“The things we are doing to lower emissions complements our ongoing partnership with Zealandia to restore the Kaiwharawhara stream and increase biodiversity in Wellington,” Delaney says.
Other emission reduction initiatives at the port include:
- 100% electric container internal movement vehicles
- LED lighting
- Removing diesel fuelled mobile plant, and,
- a commitment to trial some of New Zealand’s first 100% hydrogen powered trucks on CentrePort’s North Island logistics routes.
