The study, delivered in collaboration with Connected Places Catapult, found that 78% of emissions at the port are caused by vessels at berth and that by switching to shore power these could be almost wiped out entirely.

“Providing green shore power is a win from the port, our customers, the community and the environment,” said Bob Sanguinetti, chief executive of Aberdeen Harbour Board.

Solutions have been compared and a demonstrator project could be in place providing green shore power in the port within two years.

“We now need commitment and collaboration as well as investment from the public and private sector to deliver the demonstrator project,” said Bob Sanguinetti.

Funded with a grant of more than £400,000 from the UK government’s Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition, the project drew on a variety of stakeholder views and data analysis to build a comprehensive picture of the needs of shipowners and port users.

Along with Connected Places Catapult, Buro Happold, Tyndall Centre and bp also provided support to the project. In November 2021, Aberdeen Harbour teamed up with bp to explore ways to reduce emissions and lower air and noise pollution at the port.

“Shore power infrastructure is an important step in the decarbonisation of marine operations and aligns closely to bp’s long term decarbonisation of marine operations,” said Luke Hendricksen, marine operations lead at bp.