Transport

Port electrification: powering ports from grid to quay

European ports are moving from pilot shore-power schemes to large-scale electrification.

Transport

Port electrification: powering ports from grid to quay

European ports are moving from pilot shore-power schemes to large-scale electrification.

European ports are becoming energy platforms. Driven by new EU rules, they are electrifying fast, so ships can switch off their auxiliary engines at berth and stop releasing CO₂, NOx, SOx and fine particles into port cities.

And electrification does not stop at the quay. As cranes, handling equipment, logistics vehicles and trucks turn electric, demand rises well beyond what most port grids were designed to carry.

At Equans, our electrical infrastructure expertise support ports across the full electrification journey, from the grid to the quay and from the quay to the vessel, while keeping day-to-day operations running.

2024

Year when shipping has been part of the EU Emissions Trading System, putting a price on vessel emissions.

2030

Shore power or a zero-emission technology becomes mandatory for certain cruise, passenger and container ships at major European ports.

65%

Europe's largest ports still lack shore-power facilities, so the roll-out has to happen fast.

Key deadlines for your electrification roadmap

For most ports, the question is no longer whether to electrify, but how to keep up with mounting pressure, both from European regulation and from shipping lines and customers.

EU ETS has covered maritime transport since 2024, putting a price on shipping emissions.
FuelEU Maritime came into force in 2025. From 2030, it requires certain container and passenger ships to use onshore power supply or a zero-emission technology at the main European ports.
AFIR requires onshore power supply to be available at designated TEN-T ports by the end of 2029.

Deployment across Europe is still uneven. The question has shifted: it is no longer whether electrification works, but how fast ports can roll it out at scale.

Electrifying every type of port

Not every port starts from the same place, and European rules do not apply to them in the same way. Power needs, priorities and deadlines differ from one type to the next.

Maritime ports

Seagoing vessels and high power at the quay: shore power and electrified terminals come first, without stopping operations.

Core TEN-T maritime ports must provide shore power under AFIR, and certain container and passenger ships must use it from 2030 (FuelEU Maritime).

Commercial ports

Freight hubs electrifying ships, cranes, machinery and heavy goods vehicles, while keeping cargo moving.

Obligations depend on the port’s TEN-T status and the ships it handles.

River ports

Smaller, often urban sites where barges and equipment need shore power and shared, affordable charging.

AFIR requires shore power at core TEN-T inland ports, with deadlines running to the end of 2029.

Mixed-use ports

Trade, passengers, industry and leisure on one site, with varied power needs to prioritise and coordinate.

No single framework: obligations follow the port’s status and activities.

The challenges of electrifying a port

Every port starts from a different place, but the same four challenges come up on almost every project.

Decarbonising and meeting new requirements

Cutting emissions from ships at berth and from port operations, electrifying equipment, and staying ahead of tightening environmental and regulatory targets.

Meeting rising and variable power needs

Securing a grid connection able to handle demand that is both higher and less predictable, often by pairing the grid with local generation, storage and energy management.

Financing the transition

Phasing investments to match the market, finding funding and grants, sharing infrastructure between users, and keeping total cost under control across the asset's life.

Transforming while the port keeps running

Rolling out new installations without taking the port offline, fitting them into existing infrastructure and stakeholders, and reconciling port operations with the surrounding city and its residents.

Beyond shore power: powering the whole port

We cover the whole electrical chain of a port, from the connection to the grid through to the vessel and every electrified use in between.

Connecting and distributing electricity

Reinforcement of the port's electrical network
High and medium-voltage substations, transformers and switchboards
MV/LV distribution to quays and equipment
Voltage and frequency conversion
Electrical protection and continuity of supply

Supplying shore power to vessels

Onshore Power Supply (OPS) for seagoing and inland waterway vessels
50/60 Hz frequency conversion
Connection points, plugs and cable management systems
Online management system for metering, monitoring and invoicing consumption
24/7 helpdesk for vessel operators
Testing and commissioning

Electrifying port operations

CCS and MCS charging for heavy-duty vehicles
Charging for port and service fleets
Power supply for electric cargo-handling equipment
Electrification of terminal tractors, cranes and logistics equipment
Charging infrastructure for depots and logistics areas

Managing and securing the power supply

Supervision of electrical infrastructure
Smart charging and load management
Power allocation between the port's different uses
Peak-load management
Battery storage to limit peak demand
Solar generation dedicated to the port's needs
Operation and maintenance of electrical installations

Port electrification in action

SHORE POWER FOR CRUISE SHIPS (CENAQ)

Marseille-Fos, France

At the Grand Port Maritime de Marseille, Equans built the CENAQ frequency-conversion substation so cruise ships can switch off their engines at berth.

3 cruise ships connected simultaneously, at up to 16 MVA each
Power equivalent to the consumption of around 39,000 households
6 km of high-voltage cable, with the port grid kept in operation throughout
In service from February 2026

HIGH-POWER SHORE POWER

Port of Antwerp-Bruges (Zeebrugge), Belgium

As prime contractor, Equans is delivering and operating a shore-power installation at Zeebrugge, from grid connection to the quay.

4 shore-power cabinets and a cable management system
36 kV connection, 16 MVA transformer, 50/60 Hz conversion
Delivered and operated by Equans (design, build, maintain, operate), 2024 to 2027
Lower emissions and noise from vessels at berth

RENOVATING HIGH-VOLTAGE SUBSTATIONS WITHOUT STOPPING TRAFFIC

Port of Dunkirk, France

For the Grand Port Maritime de Dunkerque, Equans renovated three high-voltage substations on the west port, including asbestos removal, while keeping maritime traffic running.

3 high-voltage substations renovated
Downtime reduced by at least one hour per outage
Maritime traffic unaffected by the switchovers

What sets Equans apart

From the grid to the vessel, under one roof

We cover the full electrical chain, from grid connection and distribution to shore power at the quay and the vessel itself. Few players follow the power that far.

Operations kept running, power secured

Electrification work goes ahead without shutting the port down. And where grid capacity is tight, we secure the power needed with renewable generation, storage, energy management or modular solutions.

One partner across the lifecycle

From design to installation, commissioning, operation and maintenance, we map every stakeholder’s requirements and stay involved so the port stays powered over the long term.

Digital, from design to performance

We use digital tools across the project, from design and integration to digital monitoring and supervision and performance, so the port can see and steer its energy as electrified uses multiply.

An integrator, delivered as a service

We adapt each project to the site, bring in the right technology partners when needed, and can run the service itself, with online metering, invoicing and a 24/7 helpdesk for vessel operators.

FAQ

What does port electrification involve?

It covers the whole electrical chain of a port: grid connection and distribution, onshore power supply to vessels, electrification of cranes, handling equipment and port vehicles, and the systems that manage and secure the power.

Which regulations are driving shore power in Europe?

EU ETS has applied to maritime transport since 2024. FuelEU Maritime requires certain container and passenger ships to use onshore power or a zero-emission technology at the main European ports from 2030, and AFIR sets a shore-power availability deadline for designated TEN-T ports by the end of 2029.

Can a port be electrified without stopping operations?

Yes. Continuity of service is built into the design. At the Port of Dunkirk, for example, Equans renovated three high-voltage substations without stopping maritime traffic.

Does Equans only supply equipment, or also operate it?

We cover the full lifecycle, from studies and design to installation, commissioning, operation and maintenance, so the infrastructure keeps performing once it is in service.

Which types of ports does Equans work with?

Maritime, river, commercial and mixed-use ports, both public and private. Our references span shore power for cruise ships at Marseille-Fos, high-power shore power at Zeebrugge (Port of Antwerp-Bruges), shore power for inland vessels at Ghent and Ostend, high-voltage substation renovation at Dunkirk, and the onshore docking stations of Zero Emission Services in the Netherlands.

Let's electrify your port

Whether you run a maritime, commercial or mixed-use port, public or private, electrification starts with your grid, your quays and the way your port operates every day. We bring together electrical engineering, shore power, port-equipment electrification and energy management to deliver the infrastructure and run it over time.

Talk to our port electrification experts

Let's electrify your port

Talk to our port electrification experts