Page 49 - European Energy Innovation - autumn 2018 publication

Autumn 2018 European Energy Innovation 49

SUSTAINABLE PORTS

investment lists of European ports. costly connection to the grid. All But there is more. We believe that it is
together a good investment and a time to recognise the role European
In view of the limited budgets and good way to lower shipping emissions ports are and can play as nodes of
the huge investment needs across all at berth and to make maritime and energy, industry and blue economy,
modes, the Commission is putting a port operations more acceptable for which can make of European ports
lot of effort in directing ports towards the people around the port. But it the ideal stage director for developing
innovative financing instruments. takes two to tango: the ships must port areas into nodes of sustainable
use the installations. Using OPS costs growth. So far Europe’s Transport
As ESPO we are convinced that these more than burning fuel on board: Infrastructure policy is very much
new financial instruments can play land-based energy is taxed whereas geared to prioritising cross-border
a role but we are equally convinced ship-generated energy is exempted. projects. Ports risk to miss this boat
that many of the environmental And even without taxes, there seems since, situated in one Member State,
investments in ports are having a high to be a price difference in favour of they are not perceived as cross-
societal value, while only a limited the fuel used on board of ships. border. Ports however do not only
and slow return on investment. For have a huge cross-border impact
these investments, grants remain We therefore hope that ports can but also an important cross-sector
vital. The investments in On Shore benefit to a larger extent from impact linking transport, energy,
Power Supply are a good example. support from the Connecting industry and bleu economy. In view
Investing in OPS, means for many Europe Facility in view of lowering of Europe’s decarbonisation agenda,
ports, not only investing in the their environmental footprint and it is time to see how ports can be a
needed equipment on the quay side accommodating the greening of spider in the web for guiding Europe
but also investing in a sometimes shipping. through the energy transition. l

It is time to recognise the role European
ports are and can play as nodes of energy,
industry and blue economy, which can make
of European ports the ideal stage director for
developing port areas into nodes of
sustainable growth.

[1] https://www.espo.be/media/Port%20Investment%20Study%202018_FINAL_1.pdf

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