The Port of Oakland is about to start the construction of shore power connections at twelve of its berths, which will provide power from land to a vessel that is berthed or at the dock. Providing a land-based source of power is intended reduce the amount of pollution from ships burning diesel fuel while they are in port.
Usually berthed ships keep auxiliary engines running in order to provide power to core ship functions and to cool cargo. Shore power provides energy supplies from land and allows those vessels to “plug-in” and shut off their diesel-fueled engines. “The ship services … are powered by electricity that comes from the electric grid as opposed to the auxiliary engine,” explains Delphine Prevost, Senior Maritime Projects Administrator of the Port.
By implementing shore power, the Port of Oakland aims to reduce air pollution from diesel particulate and to follows regulation set by California’s Air Resource Board. In a Maritime Air Quality Improvement Plan that was developed in partnership with the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, the West Oakland Environmental Indicators Project, and maritime industry representation, the port set a goal of cutting diesel particulate matter emissions by 85 percent by the year 2020
Read the rest of the story by Felix Irmer at Oakland North.