An international consortium of 46 partners, led by the Port
of Antwerp, is launching a new program focusing on the greening of Europe’s
seaports. The five-year effort, which will launch later this year, will explore
all aspects of port operations seeking solutions to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions in the ports.
Known as the Pioneers project, it will involve leading
ports, terminal operators, carriers, forwarders, knowledge institutions,
technology developers, innovators, and government agencies. The initiative has
been awarded a $30 million grant from the European Horizon 2020 program to
undertake a series of 19 demonstration projects. These include the production
and delivery of green energy, sustainable port design, modal shift,
optimization of flows, and digital transition.
“This is an important milestone for the port of Antwerp and
the entire port community and also shows that our ambitions are on the right
track,” said Annick De Ridder, port alderman for Antwerp. “We want to use this
as a financial leverage to strengthen the further greening and sustainability
of the port platform and to position our port as the ultimate Green Port of
Europe.”
During the program, the partners will examine all aspects of
port activities, from terminal activities and concessions, through mobility,
fuels, and connectivity, to models for collaboration and the production,
storage, and consumption of energy.
Among the actions they plan to address are the generation of
renewable energy and the introduction of vehicles that run on electricity,
hydrogen, and methanol. They will also explore adapting buildings and heating
networks for energy efficiency. Other areas will address port automation, the
roll-out of digital platforms to promote modal shift, and optimize movements of
vehicles, vessels, and containers.
Port of Antwerp will act as a pioneering port, where most of
the demonstration projects will be undertaken as the programs explore what a
Green Port of the future will look like. The ports of Barcelona, Constanta, and
Venlo will also take an active role to transfer solutions to their environment
as much as possible, and are involved in applying the best practices of the
project.
"Port of Antwerp aims to be the first world port to
reconcile the economy, people, and climate,” said Jacques Vandermeiren, CEO
Port of Antwerp. “To be climate neutral by 2050, we need to take action now.
PIONEERS proves how Port of Antwerp, together with a wide network of
stakeholders is pioneering to achieve our goal."
Port of Antwerp wants to be a carbon-neutral port by 2050
and is convinced that green ports can only be created through partnerships and
an active dialogue with a wide network of stakeholders. To achieve this goal,
the port directors believe it will be crucial to get all stakeholders on board
and to roll out innovative solutions.
The Pioneers project is designed to promote cooperation and
ensure that innovations can be applied across the port sector to help achieve
Europe’s climate goals.