Why are generator sets necessary in Ports?
Due to the growing need and noticeable trend in developed countries to control pollutant emissions registered to the atmosphere rules and standards are stricter than ever.
Taking into account ships that berthed at ports, which have increased considerably in number, pollution impact cannot be ignore. It also depends on the city and its characteristics that could have a profound or lower impact on the environment.
Traditionally, ships use their own energy when berthed at port using auxiliary engines located inside them. These engine’s emissions and their noise pollution –mainly at night – have a strong impact on our environment causing great inconveniences for those who live and/or work in ports or surrounding areas.
Nowadays, there are several solutions to reduce pollutant emission registered in ports. All of them have in common that ships:
– turn off auxiliary engines which consume heavy fuels on lay days;
– use cleaner sources to carry out daily tasks in the port that need energy and prevent harmful acoustic and air pollution.
A high investment in infrastructure is necessary in order to allow power to be supplied from shore to ship since it is necessary to use the electric grid of the port city to connect the ship to the existing shore socket of power supply in the dock.
There are substations in springs that have switches, circuit breakers, a transformer, an automatic ground switch, safety equipment such as protective relays for transformers, communication systems between ships and port and in most cases frequency converters to adapt the local grid voltage to the ship’s. In addition, it is necessary to have a management system for the port wires. On top of that, the ship needs an additional electric panel board and in most cases a step-down transformer.
If we take into account the cut down on fuels for ships, we could say that investments are capitalised in a short period of time. Furthermore, it is easier to meet strict standards for energy conservation and reduction of carbon blueprint which are stated in each country.
Another complementary solution is the use of generator set when ships berth in port. It offers various voltages and frequencies according to what the ship needs.
There are several advantages in having a generator set on a mobile kit in a port. It:
- adapts to different voltages and frequencies that ships may need;
- is movable and could be easily taken to any part of the port where ships are berthed that is not possible for other systems mentioned above;
- uses low emission engines that meet the standards of European STAGE IIIA
- does not run with heavy fuels;
- is soundproofing and make barely any audible sounds.
- could be also used to feed refrigerated containers keeping perishable food cold for those that have to stay in port for some time.
Stockholm Ports have chosen INMESOL generator set for various uses in their ports located in the city.
