At ports across the world, ships continue to burn diesel to enter and exit ports, and while idling at berth just to keep lights on, systems running and hoteling operations functioning. This practice releases harmful CO₂, nitrogen oxides (NO_x) and particulates into the air, affecting nearby communities and contributing significantly to urban pollution. It doesn’t have to be this way.

Electrification offers a proven and scalable solution. Cold ironing, or shore-side power, allows vessels to plug into clean electricity while docked, reducing emissions during port stays; while electric propulsion near shore allows vessels to abate emissions to zero. This approach delivers immediate benefits.

Studies show that shipping can contribute 30–35% of urban air pollution in port cities. Enabling ships to draw on renewable grid power instead of running onboard generators translates to dramatic local air-quality gains, cleaner air for port communities and measurable public health improvements.

Beyond the environment, shore power is also a regulatory lifeline. With new International Maritime Organization rules tightening emissions standards from 2027, port electrification offers a route to immediate compliance.

But the potential impact of port electrification goes even further when paired with large-scale battery storage on shore. While ships benefit directly from clean, grid-connected energy, batteries operating behind the scenes ensure the power is both reliable and rooted in renewables. By capturing excess solar and wind output when it’s abundant, and releasing it during demand spikes, battery energy storage systems (BESS) help balance the grid and enable round-the-clock clean electricity availability.

The urgent need for installing this infrastructure is clear. The UK has experienced energy price shocks in the wake of geopolitical disruptions such as the Ukraine war and in the Middle East, exposing the nation’s reliance on volatile global gas markets. A homegrown energy system, built on renewable generation and supported by BESS, reduces this vulnerability. As UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer put it: ‘Energy security is national security.’

Enabling ships to draw on renewable grid power instead of running onboard generators translates to dramatic local air-quality gains, cleaner air for port communities and measurable public health improvements.

Pipeline of clean energy projects
NatPower UK is backing a pipeline of clean energy projects – over £10bn in renewables and storage currently in development. These projects are designed to store UK-generated power and make it available when needed most – including to vessels plugged in at shore. Gigawatt-scale batteries are a linchpin of the strategy, ensuring that as transport and shipping electrify, the power to support them comes from clean domestic sources.

This shift also makes economic sense. Electrified ports and BESS projects don’t just reduce pollution – they enable energy independence, stabilise grid operations and strengthen infrastructure resilience. Instead of relying on imported bunker fuel or foreign gas, ships draw power from UK-based renewables. When supported by batteries, this clean energy becomes dispatchable, shielding operators and consumers from volatile prices and supply constraints.

Grid stability is another critical advantage. With more renewables coming online, storage helps smooth out intermittency and prevent curtailment. Ports, with their concentrated energy demands, benefit immensely from this buffer. Batteries absorb demand spikes when multiple ships plug in and help ports avoid costly infrastructure upgrades or blackouts.

Economically, the case is also strong. First movers who adopt cold ironing and clean energy infrastructure also gain operational certainty and predictable costs.

The environmental gains are profound. Shore power, particularly when paired with BESS, reduces noise and air pollution, contributing to healthier and quieter waterfronts. Clean ports become magnets for eco-conscious partners and global trade flows increasingly prioritising sustainability.

Solutions for shipping
The industry doesn’t need more experiments – it needs solutions it can count on. NatPower Marine is working to accelerate the transition by developing a global network of shore power stations along real-world shipping routes. The goal is to move beyond isolated pilot projects and build dependable infrastructure where it’s needed most. The company offers a financed energy transition service for ports and shipowners to adopt shore power.

In this integrated vision, clean shipping isn’t a niche aspiration – it’s an engine for growth, resilience and sustainability. As the energy transition advances, ports have a pivotal role to play – not just as hubs of trade, but as catalysts for clean transformation.

The next phase of maritime infrastructure isn’t just about where ships go. It’s about how they power those journeys – and what that power says about our priorities. With the right vision, the port can become more than a point of arrival; it can be a launchpad for a greener, smarter, more secure energy future.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are strictly those of the author only and are not necessarily given or endorsed by or on behalf of the Energy Institute.

• Further reading: ‘Maritime decarbonisation: ports and green shipping corridors’. The Port of Huelva is assisting in the development of both alternative maritime fuels and green shipping corridors, thanks to its geographical position in the southern part of Spain. Director of the Port Authority of Huelva, Ignacio Álvarez-Ossorio Ramos, explains.
• Find out how the International Maritime Organization is embarking on a voyage to a net zero 2050, including long-term ambitions and short-term actions that have already begun to impact the maritime world.