Wise Port and Business Energy Management: Port Facilities, Electrical Power Distribution

TLDR

Energy management principles and electrical distribution architecture critically affect port facility performance, as ports serve as the interface between maritime transport and surrounding land. This study proposes a research plan to remodel port electrical infrastructures, focusing on arranging power distribution systems—potentially microgrids—to serve as a utility capable of powering ships from shore. The authors recommend developing an energy master plan that treats the port area as a single customer and implements microgrid-based utility systems for efficient power distribution. Effective port energy management presents a significant business opportunity for port authorities, benefiting multiple stakeholders—including the power utility—through optimized energy flow control.

Abstract

This paper deals with the relevance of analyzing the necessary development and of proposing a plan for research and remodeling the electrical infrastructures of port facilities. Good energy management principles, as well as electrical distribution architecture have a vital impact on performance of the installed system throughout its life cycle. The ports are the interface of maritime transport and are integrated in the surrounding land. They are required to arrange their electrical power distribution system, possibly in microgrids, that is, as a "utility" system, appropriate and adequate even to power the ship from shore. Harbors must have an energy master plan and their areas have to be considered as a unique customer. The energy management of a port area may be a great business opportunity for the port authority, which until now was not, involving different stakeholders who may benefit from service, including the same power utility company that benefits from the optimization and control of the energy flows.