A conference on ship electrification was held at the Port of Piraeus with great success and significant attendance. The conference, titled “Ship Electrification at the Port of Piraeus – Prospects and Challenges,” took place at the conference hall of the Piraeus Port Authority.

The conference was part of the efforts towards the energy transition of the Piraeus port infrastructure and the adaptation of its port operations to the requirements set forth by the Green Deal and the EU’s “Fit for 55” package. The Piraeus Port Authority, through two EU co-funded projects, CIPORT and EALING, has already taken relevant actions by completing all technical studies for five ship electrification positions in coastal shipping and four ship electrification positions in the cruise sector. Currently, the construction of these projects is underway.

The conference commenced with an opening speech by Mr. Panagiotis Tsonis, the Deputy CEO of PPA S.A., who highlighted the completion of the EALING project by PPAS.A. in 2023, which involves the development of final technical, environmental, and financial studies for 5 ship electrification positions along the coasts of Poseidon, Agios Dionysios, Hetionia, and Perikleous, with a total capacity of 13.5 MVA. He also mentioned the CIPORT project, which focuses on the necessary studies for 4 cruise ship electrification positions along the Themistocles coast.

Piraeus Port Authority has set up a Decarbonization Roadmap until 2030 aligned with the goals of EU Green Deal and the Fit-for-55 package. Reducing Greenhouse Gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 compared with 1990 levels is an ambitious goal for EU and we must all join forces to achieve it. We are committed to greening our own operations within their own remit and seeking ways to reduce our own emissions, while supporting vessels to their efforts towards decarbonization.

The following remarks were made by the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, Mr. Christos Stylianidis, who noted that Greece has regained its first place worldwide within the International Maritime Organization. He emphasized the specific and strict obligations for electrification of ports starting from 2030, which, as he said, compels us to “run” for the relevant infrastructure. He also highlighted that electrification will play a significant role both in the “green” transition and in the competitiveness of Greek ports at the European and global level.

The first round of speakers was concluded by the Secretary General for Private Investments of the Ministry of Development, Ms. Vasiliki (Vicky) Loizou, who mentioned that the role of the Port of Piraeus is significant in various sectors such as tourism, commerce, and foreign investments. She added that the Port of Piraeus is among the best in Europe and constantly improving in the relevant rankings. She further noted that the Ministry of Development will support any effort to upgrade the Port of Piraeus, as well as any other port in the country, and highlighted the great interest in the Port of Piraeus from abroad, which is continuously growing.

The conference focused on presenting initiatives for the development of ship electrification systems in ports and facilitating the exchange of ideas to shape sustainable operational, regulatory, and financial models.