Portsmouth shore power system goes live

On July 19, Portsmouth International Port's onshore power system (OPS) went live with Aida Cruises' AIDAsol becoming the first cruise ship to plug in at the dedicated cruise berth, Ayrton Berth, which can accommodate ships up to 300m in length, as part of the test phase. The official inauguration takes place on September 23.

The mobile shore power delivery unit is manufactured by Zinus and can provide 12.5MVA at the berth. Supplier Bryt Energy has issued a certificate to confirm that it is 100 percent renewable electricity sourced solely from solar, wind and hydro.

Since then every ship with the capability of connecting has done so which accounts for 20 of the 32 calls scheduled for the 2026 season and includes Phoenix Reisen's Amadea. Of note is that when Virgin Voyages' Valiant Lady plugged in on August 5.

PIP is striving to become the UK's first zero-emissions port by 2050 with OPS playing a major part in the progress. Funded with £19.8 million (€23.1 Million) from the Department for Transport and £4.6 million from Portsmouth City Council, it is the UK's first high-voltage multi-berth, multi-user, multi-frequency shore power system that is being offered on three berths, two of which are frequented by Brittany Ferries' hybrid-electric ships, St Malo and Guillaume de Normandie.

Aviation, Maritime and Decarbonisation Minister Keir Mather said: "Backed by almost £20 million in government funding, this is a major milestone in decarbonising UK shipping, placing Portsmouth firmly in the future as it celebrates 50 years in operation. Nationally, shipping is the backbone of the economy, and government is playing its part, investing £448m to drive innovation in clean fuels and technologies, creating skilled jobs, cutting emissions, and driving long-term growth."

As well as improving air quality for Portsmouth residents, the system is projected to help avoid emissions of around 20,000 tonnes of CO2e from 2027, aiding in the goal to become the country's first emissions-free port by 2050.

Mike Sellers, PIP director, said: "This is a huge moment not only for us, but also for the UK ports industry as a whole. The clean electricity will have a big benefit to air quality in the city, and it also helps to future-proof Portsmouth port, aligning us with international moves towards electrification for all of our customers, meaning we can continue to be profitable and provide for essential services in the city."

It is not all smooth sailing though as Sellers explained: "There are still challenges we're facing around the cost of electricity, and we're continuing to lobby the government hard to ensure they address these and make electrification a more attractive business proposition for us and for ports across the country."

Christophe Mathieu, chief executive at Brittany Ferries, said:"We're grateful to everyone who's worked so hard to make this a reality: the teams at Portsmouth International Port, Portsmouth City Council, the Sea Change partners, and the UK government. Portsmouth is a city that has always thrived on its sea links, and together, we're making a difference that people who live in it can breathe."

In addition to the funding for construction of the system, Portsmouth City Council also provided £3 million to secure the power that was needed from the grid.

Cllr Steve Pitt, leader of the council, said: "As the first mover in electrification, we have had a number of challenges to get to this point, but the team at the port and all of the partners have been absolutely determined to make this work, for the industry but primarily for the people of Portsmouth. Our priority with the shore power system has always been helping to improve air quality in the city, for those who live and work here."


The shore power system, also known as the Sea Change project, is the result of the work of a number of partners, including Barter 4 Things, Brittany Ferries, MSE International, Swanbarton, and the University of Portsmouth.

As part of its green credentials, the port can also facilitate LNG bunkering which it has been doing on a biweekly basis to two Brittany Ferries ships for the past 18 months. Although the port's existing cruiseline customers do not have LNG-powered ships, the company is in discussions with those that do which is an added string to the UK port's bow.

Andrew Williams, head of cruise and ferry PIP, says: "The shore power project has been the biggest we've ever undertaken, as we seek to support all of our customers in their sustainability ambitions, and while we also strive to meet our own aim of being the first zero-emissions UK port by 2050. At Portsmouth, we endeavour to stay at the forefront of the UK's maritime decarbonisation journey, and so we were keen to be early movers in berth electrification and further enhance the attractiveness of the UK as a whole for cruise operators.

"The system is proving to be a success with three cruiselines already having connected, and one of those, Virgin Voyages, plugging in for the first time in Europe. We have more customers lined up for the rest of this year and into the next, and look forward to welcoming many more shorepower-ready ships well into the future."