In recent years, logistics and the maritime industry have launched countless activities that are either sustainable or designed to combat climate change. Ten such projects from the ports of Bremen and Lower Saxony demonstrate the focus by those responsible on a wide range of alternative solutions, charting the course for future generations to do the same.
The Energy Port firmly in sight
In March, the Bremen Senate gave the go-ahead for the planning of an Energy Port in Bremerhaven, with the aim of making a positive contribution to the energy transition as well as the security of Germany’s future energy supply. Over 250 hectares of development land in the southern fishing harbour, which can be used as both industrial and commercial space and for sea and land transport connections for a wide range of sustainable transformation projects, are available for this purpose. The preliminary technical planning for the Energy Port involves a needs assessment and market analysis, which scrutinises the potential of the offshore and onshore industry in particular, as well as the establishment of an energy hub for hydrogen (H₂) and its derivatives. “The Energy Port has enabled both the energy transition and the security of supply to be accomplished in one port,” explains Christian Hein, Head of Port Development at bremenports, outlining the advantages of the project. “It also has the potential to create many additional jobs in Bremerhaven.” The next stage is to prepare a construction decision document (ES Bau).
CO₂-neutral Überseehafen
change mitigation project for the Überseehafen with an autumn kick-off meeting. The port management company invited numerous local port and handling company representatives, as well as terminal and network operators, to convene in Bremerhaven. Based on the preliminary plans from the “SHARC” (Smart Harbour Application Renewable Integration Concept) project dating back to 2018, they are currently working on a concept that will enable the Überseehafen to be operated in a CO₂-neutral manner starting in 2035. The first results are expected in spring 2024. The use of any form of energy is conceivable – from biogas to photovoltaics or wind energy to large heat exchangers that use the Weser water to heat port buildings. “Although plenty of empirical data has already been provided by SHARC, we still have some way to go,” emphasises Dr Lars Stemmler, Head of International Projects at bremenports. “What we and the handling and port companies are doing here is no longer just a research project. Ultimately, we intend to create a new energy system for the entire port.” Stemmler also knows that he and his colleagues are under time pressure. “On the one hand, the threatening climate scenarios leave us no choice. On the other, though, when you consider how extensive this transformation process is going to be, 2035 may as well be the day after tomorrow,” he continues.
Green light for for hyrogen-powered shunting locomotives
As part of the “sH2unter@ports” research project , the Elbe-Weser Transport and Railways company, the Smart Mobility Institute at Bremerhaven University of Applied Sciences, the Institute for Energy and Circular Economy at Bremen University of Applied Sciences, Alstom, bremenports and the Hamburg Port Authority have been investigating how to run shunting locomotives in an environmentally friendly way since December 2022. Together, their goal is to convert shunting operations in the Bremen and Hamburg port areas to hydrogen (H₂). Among the many things being analysed, the requirements for future locomotives, refuelling conditions and both safety and legal regulations are under scrutiny. The end of the project, which runs until May 2024, will see an implementation plan drawn up to assist the participating ports in achieving CO₂ neutrality by 2035, and which will also serve as a model for other ports. “The switch to environmentally friendly engines in last-mile freight transport is a technical challenge that we’re tackling with the best possible expertise from within our Verbund,” explains Insa Pohlenga, Project Manager at bremenports, outlining the project that is supported by the Federal Ministry of Digital Affairs and Transport to the tune of 1.2 million euros.
“The energy transition and the security of supply have been accomplished in one port.”
Christian Hein, Head of the Port Development Department at bremenports
“We intend to create a new energy system for the entire port.”
Dr Lars Stemmler, leading the climate protection project for the Überseehafen at bremenportss
Double award for shipping
The annual “Green Focus Award”, which bremenports began presenting in 2014, is not for trains, rather for ships. On the one hand, it honours the ship with the lowest emissions that calls at Bremen’s ports. On the other, it recognises the shipping company or charterer with the lowest-emission fleet overall. This year, the CMA CGM Group prevailed in both categories – its container ship “Stellar” and, indeed, the entire CMA CGM fleet having the lowest emissions. The 2022 Environmental Ship Index (ESI) ratings formed the criteria for determining the winners in both categories. The ESI is an international standard with a score made up of points for nitrogen oxide, sulphur oxide and carbon dioxide emissions, among other things. “I’m delighted that our winners’ emissions have continued to fall year after year in the almost ten years that we’ve been awarding this prize,” announced bremenports Managing Director Robert Howe at the official award ceremony held at ENVOCONNECT in Bremerhaven in September. “In presenting this award, we recognise those ships and shipping companies that have already taken specific measures to move towards zero-emission shipping,” added Katja von Bargen, who coordinates environmental management at the ports of Bremen for bremenports.
A new take on sustainability
ENVOCONNECT is a congress format initiated by bremenports, which premiered in Bremerhaven in September and which many believe has ushered in a new era in sustainability communication. Over 100 participants attended the keynote speeches, during which it became clear that today’s global growth models have had their day and that new solutions for sustainable logistics need to be found. “Sustainability has long been a competitive factor for ports and port-related businesses, and one thing is clear – our ports undoubtedly play a key role in the energy transition,” explained Minister of State Sarah Ryglewski, responsible for coordinating the German government’s sustainability policy, adding some political weight to the occasion. “Bringing this event format to life was well worth it,” summarised Howe at the end of this successful event. “There’s a noticeable need to exchange ideas on the topic of sustainability in and around the ports.” He then went on to announce that this event will be organised again next September.
Wilhelmshaven becomes a hub
Lower Saxony is also focusing on a range of comprehensive sustainability concepts and detailed solutions. One of the major ideas, for example, is the Port of Wilhelmshaven ENERGY HUB, in which a group of around 40 companies and projects have joined forces to establish an industrial energy cluster in the region. Their aim is to produce around 40 to 60 per cent of the forecast German hydrogen demand here in the early 2030s. Before this can happen, however, the partners are working on fundamental topics and issues that relate to how competitive both renewable energies and hydrogen and its derivatives are. The five main topics are regional production, import, transportation, storage and everything that is needed to ensure rapid implementation. Individual issues are prepared by specific working groups and recommendations for action are then passed on to politicians. “Successfully transforming Germany as an industrial location is our special responsibility,” says Uwe Oppitz, Managing Director of Rhenus Ports and spokesperson for the Port of Wilhelmshaven ENERGY HUB. “The Jade-Weser region will be a key player in this – regardless of whether electrons or molecules are involved – and the Port of Wilhelmshaven ENERGY HUB is the voice of those who can make a difference.”
“We’re switching to environmentally friendly engines within our Verbund.”
Insa Pohlenga, “sH2unter@ports” Project Manager at bremenports
“The Jade-Weser region will be a key player.”
Uwe Oppitz, Managing Director of Rhenus Ports and spokesperson for the Port of Wilhelmshaven ENERGY HUB
Cuxhaven’s focus is also on hydrogen
Cuxhaven has also set its sights on hydrogen with the “Concept for the utilisation of hydrogen in Cuxhaven” project launched in 2022. According to Turneo, the company tasked with implementing the project, this is the first hydrogen project in Germany to offer carbon-neutral hydrogen as an innovative end-to-end solution. The planned electrolysis plant will produce up to one tonne of green hydrogen per day. This will then be used in the maritime sector and for fuelling cars and trucks, for example. Using hydrogen in offshore service vessels travelling to Mittelplate, Germany’s largest oil field, and for the city’s refuse collection vehicles is also being considered. The project creates short transport routes, is scalable and can be expanded modularly to produce 20 megawatts on-site if demand increases, predicts Marc Itgen, Head of the Cuxhaven Agency for Economic Development. “The introduction of a hydrogen infrastructure in the city and the surrounding region marks a significant step towards sustainable development and the energy transition,” he says. “As part of ‘Use-Case-Hydrogen’, we’re proud of the path Turneo is taking, as it will protect our environment, boost the economy and improve the quality of life of the people who live here.” Mr Itgen expects the first climate-neutral hydrogen to be produced on-site within the next few days.
Space for wind power required
Besides hydrogen, wind power is also very much in demand in Lower Saxony. Consequently, the Lower Saxony Seaports Working Group, in cooperation with NPorts, commissioned Deutsche WindGuard to prepare a report that explores the potential for onshore and offshore wind energy expansion in Lower Saxony’s seaports and to determine the space required for achieving the energy transition. According to the study, presented at the 31st Lower Saxony Port Day in Stade in September, Lower Saxony’s seaports have sufficient space to achieve the expansion targets and more by 2030. Nevertheless, extensive investment would be needed in seaport infrastructure in the short term to cope with the additional transshipment of wind energy components. Between 2025 and 2030 alone, an average of over 200 hectares of land will be required to achieve these targets. This is triple the area Lower Saxony’s seaports currently have available for the wind energy sector. “Implementing the energy transition is hugely significant for the future viability of Germany as a business location,” affirms Michael de Reese, spokesperson for the Lower Saxony Seaports Working Group. “This is why the German government must be held more accountable for the funding of port infrastructure expansion, which has been lacking previously. This will allow Lower Saxony’s seaports to continue to fulfil their role as important import and export ports and make their contribution to a successful energy transition.”
“We’re proud of the path Turneo is taking.”
Marc Itgen, Head of the Cuxhaven Agency for Economic Development
“The German government must be held more accountable for the funding.”
Michael de Reese, spokesperson for the Lower Saxony Seaports Working Group
Emden tests alternative dredger engine
The “AMISIA” (Advanced Port Maintenance: Intelligent, Sustainable, Innovative and Automated Dredging) project, launched in 2021, operates directly on the water with the aim of using innovative technologies and automated systems to make maintenance dredging in the Port of Emden even more productive and environmentally friendly. Consequently, a sustainable dredging concept and the requisite dredging vessel are to be developed by September 2024, an innovative project with three elements. Alongside developing a sensor concept for safe port environment navigation and the optimisation of the recirculation process, this includes the use of an alternative dredger engine, so that future maintenance can be carried out with fewer CO₂ emissions. “The maintenance measure in place at the Port of Emden since 2002 – the recirculation process – is already extremely innovative and saves on more resources compared to conventional extraction dredging,” explains Daniela da Rosa, AMISIA Project Manager at NPorts, outlining the focus of the project supported by the German Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport Affairs (BMDV). “AMISIA enables us to strive to make our dredging process even more efficient and environmentally friendly.”
Exploring potential
Furthermore, a potential study is due to be carried out until late 2025, in which solutions are identified for small-scale renewable energy options in the Emden Port and surroundings as part of the INTERREG project “REDII Ports” (Renewable Energy Development and Intelligent Implementation in Ports) that was launched in November 2022. These may be possible small wind turbines, solar panels on buildings or heat pumps powered by harbour water. Moreover, a two-step plan is to examine and determine which port areas are best suited for use, so as to exploit the location’s potential on a test field there over a two-year period. The results will be discussed with the port operators, and promising approaches will then be pursued further in order to support the ports in achieving their climate targets. “The small-scale solutions for generating heat and electricity from wind and solar power are intended to maximise the potential of areas where there isn’t enough suitable space for large wind turbines or photovoltaic projects,” explains Jens Kampen, who is in charge of the project in Emden. In the best-case scenario, Kampen and his colleagues hope that the other 14 ports in Lower Saxony will also benefit from the results obtained there. (bre)
“We’re striving to make our dredging process even more environmentally friendly.”
Daniela da Rosa, AMISIA Project Manager at NPorts
“Small-scale solutions are intended to maximise potential.”
Jens Kampen, in charge of REDII Ports at NPorts in Emden
