Page 12 - European Energy Innovation - Autumn 2015 publication
P. 12
Autumn 2015 European Energy Innovation
PORTS
Energy-efficiency,
more than a buzz word for
European ports
By Isabelle Ryckbost, Secretary General ESPO
“No ports, no energy; 30% of Europe’s final energy being used today. Moreover,
no energy, no ports”. consumption. The ITF Transport increasing trade volumes will
This was the title of our outlook 20151 sees international also make the supply chain
Annual Conference. freight transport volumes growing as such more complex. To
And not without reason. Ports more than fourfold by 2050. address this challenge, the
are of paramount importance Overall, higher incomes and European transport sector
for Europe’s energy: they supply, growth of world population will should seriously look into the
produce, use, store, import, increase the demand for energy untapped potential of further
transport, save, clean energy. in the world. digitalisation, use the rapid
proliferation of hand-held
So no need to say that ports The challenge is thus huge, also for digital devices, big data, and
have to be alert when climate ports, but there are opportunities. the “internet of everything”.
change policy goals, geo- Let me present some: The ultimate aim should be
political developments and to develop port communities
volatility of energy prices risk to • Ports are not only gateways in the Union that function in
drastically alter the world’s energy to the world but they are a transparent way, with all
landscape. transport nodes. They link stakeholders submitting digital
sea transport with all land information to the system,
Since summer 2014, energy modes. And there something allowing a far more efficient
policy has been very high on can happen. Everything has and secure logistic chain and
Europe’s political agenda with to be put in place to optimise connecting industry. This would
ambitious targets as starting hinterland links, to shift lead to a better utilisation
point: 27% renewables by 2030, towards more sustainable of the existing capacity and
improve energy efficiency with modes of transport, to remove infrastructure in ports, to more
20% by 2020, with 30% ten barriers and bottlenecks, efficient planning regimes in
years later. The aim is to secure in short to make hinterland the whole logistic chain and to
energy provision, to enhance links smoother and more a higher overall efficiency of
sustainability by using greener sustainable. the European Transport System.
energy and last but not least, by As key players in the operation
doing more with less energy. Let • The expected growth in freight of the logistics chains, linking
us focus on this energy efficiency: traffic volumes is of such maritime transport with all
how can European seaports an order of magnitude that other transport modes and with
improve their energy efficiency creating additional transport external service and information
and contribute to more energy and port infrastructure in providers, European ports
efficiency in the overall economy? itself will not be enough. A can play a pivotal role in this
better use of the existing process. For European policy
What is at stake? Around capacity is needed. According makers, this development
40% of the commodities of to the World Economic should be seen as a top
European ports are sources of Forum, only about 40% of priority and where possible be
energy. Transport accounts for load capacity is effectively encouraged and facilitated.
www.europeanenergyinnovation.eu
PORTS
Energy-efficiency,
more than a buzz word for
European ports
By Isabelle Ryckbost, Secretary General ESPO
“No ports, no energy; 30% of Europe’s final energy being used today. Moreover,
no energy, no ports”. consumption. The ITF Transport increasing trade volumes will
This was the title of our outlook 20151 sees international also make the supply chain
Annual Conference. freight transport volumes growing as such more complex. To
And not without reason. Ports more than fourfold by 2050. address this challenge, the
are of paramount importance Overall, higher incomes and European transport sector
for Europe’s energy: they supply, growth of world population will should seriously look into the
produce, use, store, import, increase the demand for energy untapped potential of further
transport, save, clean energy. in the world. digitalisation, use the rapid
proliferation of hand-held
So no need to say that ports The challenge is thus huge, also for digital devices, big data, and
have to be alert when climate ports, but there are opportunities. the “internet of everything”.
change policy goals, geo- Let me present some: The ultimate aim should be
political developments and to develop port communities
volatility of energy prices risk to • Ports are not only gateways in the Union that function in
drastically alter the world’s energy to the world but they are a transparent way, with all
landscape. transport nodes. They link stakeholders submitting digital
sea transport with all land information to the system,
Since summer 2014, energy modes. And there something allowing a far more efficient
policy has been very high on can happen. Everything has and secure logistic chain and
Europe’s political agenda with to be put in place to optimise connecting industry. This would
ambitious targets as starting hinterland links, to shift lead to a better utilisation
point: 27% renewables by 2030, towards more sustainable of the existing capacity and
improve energy efficiency with modes of transport, to remove infrastructure in ports, to more
20% by 2020, with 30% ten barriers and bottlenecks, efficient planning regimes in
years later. The aim is to secure in short to make hinterland the whole logistic chain and to
energy provision, to enhance links smoother and more a higher overall efficiency of
sustainability by using greener sustainable. the European Transport System.
energy and last but not least, by As key players in the operation
doing more with less energy. Let • The expected growth in freight of the logistics chains, linking
us focus on this energy efficiency: traffic volumes is of such maritime transport with all
how can European seaports an order of magnitude that other transport modes and with
improve their energy efficiency creating additional transport external service and information
and contribute to more energy and port infrastructure in providers, European ports
efficiency in the overall economy? itself will not be enough. A can play a pivotal role in this
better use of the existing process. For European policy
What is at stake? Around capacity is needed. According makers, this development
40% of the commodities of to the World Economic should be seen as a top
European ports are sources of Forum, only about 40% of priority and where possible be
energy. Transport accounts for load capacity is effectively encouraged and facilitated.
www.europeanenergyinnovation.eu
