Portsmouth Ship Shore Supply Will Be Too Expensive To Use
A £24million taxpayer-funded ‘net zero’ system at one of the UK’s busiest ports has not been connected to the national grid because it will be too expensive to use
The Sea Change project in Portsmouth was completed last year to enable ships to switch off their engines and plug into the electricity grid when berthed to cut emissions and boost air quality.
But Mike Sellers, the port’s boss, said there was a risk that it ‘could be a redundant asset’.
The system is four times more expensive than marine fuel – and energy firm Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) has not yet connected it to the National Grid.
Ships need power when berthed to run essential on-board systems such as heating, lighting and refrigeration.
The project, which allows ships to plug in at three of Portsmouth International Port‘s five berths, was allocated £19.8million by the Department of Transport in September 2023 and received £4.6million from the city council.
It was set to be available from spring last year but there is no plan for when it will be used.
Mr Sellers added:
‘There’s a huge risk here this could be a redundant asset. We’ve got no guarantee that ships are going to plug in.
We’re putting in shore power, but the cost of electricity is at a scale that’s so high that it’s far too expensive for the ships to actually plug in.’
Ed Miliband’s ‘net zero’ agenda has been accused of driving up the price of electricity.
The Tony Blair Institute for Global Change called for the Energy Secretary to replace his ‘green’ policies with a drive for cheaper power.
The British Ports Association trade body has written to Business Secretary Peter Kyle to say it is ‘growing increasingly alarmed’ at the failure of Government policy to state how the sector can stay competitive as energy costs rise.
Last year Portsmouth’s biggest customer, Brittany Ferries, introduced two hybrid ships that can be plugged in as part of a £479million investment, but the vessels are still burning marine fuel when berthed.
A spokesman for the firm said it would not plug the ships in as it costs ‘around £2.5million a year more’ than using engines. A Government spokesman said it recognised the port has been ‘waiting for an upgraded grid connection before shore power can be used’.
It comes as the UK is set to ramp up its ‘net zero’ targets and cede control of energy policy to the EU, under plans drawn up by Sir Keir Starmer.
Yes you read that right. Starmer wants to let the EU decide Britain’s energy polocies.
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very old white guy
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Is there anyone left in the UK with a functioning brain?
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