The Maritime Electrification for Utilities Workshop was held on September 15, 2021, to bring together maritime and electric utility stakeholders to discuss how to work together more effectively towards greater greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions via electrification of maritime activities. The workshop was organized by representatives from the U.S. Department of Energy and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, U.S. Maritime Administration, Washington Maritime Blue, and DNV.
In the coming decades, seaports are likely to see significant increases in electrical energy demand due to three main drivers:
- electrification and hybridization of ships and cargo-handling equipment, which will require battery recharging
- vessels connecting to shore power while at the dock (referred to as cold-ironing)
- local production of alternative fuels, referred to as electrofuels, that can be produced through electrochemical conversion.
This growth in demand will require maritime and electric utilities to work together in planning for infrastructure, charging times, rate structures, and other needs. The September 15, 2021 workshop invited maritime and electric utility stakeholders to discuss the opportunities for developing stronger partnerships between electric utility and maritime stakeholders. Download the report for the key findings from the workshop.