E+E Leader Team
The Port of Rotterdam is advancing a major port electrification effort, selecting ABB to design and build what is expected to be the world’s largest shore power system by total capacity. Exceeding 100 megavolt-amperes, the multi-terminal project is designed to support large-scale vessel electrification ahead of tightening EU maritime emissions requirements and rising pressure on ports to reduce local air pollution.
Once operational, the system will deliver onshore electricity to three deep-sea container terminals, allowing vessels to shut down auxiliary engines while at berth.
A Capacity-Driven Approach to Compliance
The combined installations will serve APM Terminals Maasvlakte II, Hutchison Ports ECT Delta, and Hutchison Ports ECT Euromax, providing power at 35 connection points and supporting up to 32 container ships simultaneously during cargo operations.
The scale is notable not only for its size, but for its regulatory timing. Under the FuelEU Maritime Regulation, container and passenger ships above 5,000 gross tonnage calling at EU ports will be required to use onshore power supply or equivalent zero-emission technologies starting in 2030. Rotterdam’s approach effectively front-loads that transition, reducing the risk of future congestion or compliance bottlenecks as demand for shore connections accelerates across Europe.
Emissions Reduction and Operational Impacts
According to Rotterdam Shore Power, using shore power for at least 90 percent of a vessel’s moored time at the three terminals could cut annual carbon dioxide emissions by an estimated 96,000 metric tons starting in 2030. Beyond carbon reductions, the shift eliminates noise pollution from running engines and improves local air quality—an increasingly important issue for ports operating in dense urban or industrial regions.
From an operational standpoint, ABB’s scope includes prefabricated, modular systems designed to limit disruption during installation, as well as scalability to accommodate future growth and renewable energy integration. ABB will also provide its supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) platform, enabling real-time monitoring, energy-use tracking, and accurate billing across terminals.
“This large-scale, multi-installation project for Rotterdam Shore Power demonstrates ABB’s expertise in delivering shore power from concept to connection,” said Rune Braastad, President, ABB’s Marine & Ports division. “Our efficient, proven end-to-end solutions cover everything from design and commissioning to maintenance and support, while minimizing disruption to operations during the installation phase. We are proud to contribute to the Port of Rotterdam’s decarbonization journey in what represents a significant step towards realizing the EU’s ambition for emission-free ports.”
Shore Power as Port Infrastructure Strategy
While shore power has long been discussed as a decarbonization tool, projects at this scale signal a change in how ports are treating electrification—as core infrastructure rather than a pilot or add-on. For Europe’s largest port, the investment reflects an assumption that vessel electrification requirements will tighten, not loosen, over the coming decade.
ABB’s multi-year service agreements with each terminal further underscore the long-term nature of the buildout. As ports face mounting pressure to balance throughput, community impact, and regulatory compliance, Rotterdam’s shore power program offers a preview of how electrification is moving from policy ambition to operational reality.