The Port of Tomorrow: Energy Aggregator in a Decarbonized World

Abstract: As the world decarbonizes and electrifies and moves towards more sustainable technologies, North America’s ports will be the mechanism by which our mineral wealth, refined products and manufactured goods can reach new markets. However, as the industries that create these products transform to meet the constraints of a world transitioning to low carbon, so too will the ports that serve them.
Already, North America’s ports are faced with the task of charging electric trucks delivering or receiving a new load. They will be further tasked with refuelling hydrogen trucks, trains and even ships. Managing their already high electrical load in a time of conservation – and reaping the financial rewards – will require integration of new digital technologies that allow the port to respond to price signals from utilities, customers, and users in real time.
This session provides an insight into the Port of the Future as not just a place for the transaction of cargo, but the transaction of electricity, carbon, and fuel. Everything from trucks awaiting shipment, to ships moored in port, could be used by the port ecosystem to meet the energy needs of the host community while the port itself is used as an informational and transactional hub that allows shipping, hauling and transport companies to derive the maximum economic benefit at the port whilst minimizing downtime and streamlining their own businesses.
An example to be discusses is inductive vehicle-to-grid technologies. As trucks wait in line at the port, they currently burn both their time and fuel – which causes harmful emissions – while idling. However, a fully modern and electrified port could use an inductive charger, installed in the principal trucking corridor, to either charge the waiting trucks (for a fee), or pull energy from their batteries to power its own operations (IE, electrified cranes) or sell to the local grid as part of a demand response program, while offering operators an incentive or rebate.
This would all be facilitated by a robust telecommunications network, and the internet of things that would allow seamless and secure connectivity. However, that is only the beginning. Trucks moving towards full electrification can also participate in carbon markets, as well as fuel standard markets. The port itself has a role to play in that aggregation of services. As trucks sell zero emission power to the port they will be displacing power that comes from a ‘brown’ grid.
This displacement – along with their zero-emission kilometres driven – would result in both carbon credits and fuel standard credits. Aggregating these financial products into credits usable at the port would be an inducement to firms to participate in the port’s activities, while also ensuring that all parties receive renumeration for their efforts.
This would make every vehicle coming into the port an asset. It would eliminate idle time. It would improve air quality at the port and offer inducements to firms that want to strive towards best practices to use the Port of the Future.

How does this project / topic contribute to the advancement of the industry and profession?: Currently, the industry has a traditional relationship with energy, being a consumer and mover of the commodity. Our model proposes that this model be inverted, with the port being a consumer, generator and market actor and aggregator. This would allow the port to develop new revenue models that take advantage of growth sectors internationally. This would allow modern ports to position themselves as forward leaders in emerging sectors and to be present in sectors that traditionally have sold ‘to’ ports, rather than viewing a port as a vendor (IE, software, financial services, energy services).

Does the project / topic implement new and innovative techniques, materials, technologies, and delivery methods?: Yes. This model seeks to deliver new and innovative services to both those using the port (shipping companies, transportation companies, third party logistics providers, postal agencies and ferry or cruise operators) as well as those that supply the port with energy (natural gas utilities, electricity providers, etc…) and inverting the relationship so that the port can be a net aggregator of services. This would rely on electrification technologies and energy management software that would permit financial and carbon transactions on a global scale at the port.

What was the most challenging aspect of your project / topic and how did you handle it to ensure success?: The most challenging aspect of this project is the integration between technologies. The EV chargers – especially inductive chargers that are capable of V2G – are relatively new, and require interoperability testing with a plethora of owners and operators. Secondarily, the integration of the port’s electricity service into the grid to respond to demand response in real time for a fee requires utility cooperation and often a site upgrade. The business case has to be carefully planned before allowing electric vehicles, to ensure that maximum benefits are derived from the process.

Who is the target audience for this paper?: This paper is targeted at Port authorities that are looking to generate new forms of revenue, as well as environmental components of the port that are looking to decarbonize. Lastly, users of the port that need to electrify their fleets should also be present, as the port can aggregate most of their needs without them needing to spend capital on infrastructure themselves.