Flexible, effecient, and cost-effective shore power that allows ships at berth to plug into the electrical grid and turn off their auxiliary diesel engines.
Shore Power Benefits
- No emissions
- No noise
- No vibration
- Lower fuel consumption
- Lower wear and tear
- Easier maintenance
PowerCon’s Shore Power
- Compact
- Reliable
- Cost-effective
- Fast lead times
- Flexible, scalable, modular
- Maximum return on investment
Also known as Onshore Power Supply (OPS), cold ironing, and shore-to-ship power to name a few terms, PowerCon pioneered the shore power industry with a modular approach. By integrating the electrical components into standard 20 ft. shipping containers, we pioneered the “building block” approach which allows us to put together the most flexible, compact, and scalable solution for any port.
The benefits of a containerized shore power system are many. Most importantly, the compact design minimizes the installation’s footprint, allowing better utilization of valuable real estate and port areas. Secondly, it allows us to pre-manufacture, pre-assemble, and pre-test our solutions in our factory instead of onsite. Thirdly, once onsite, the containerized design ensures easy and fast installation.
We build all our solutions according to the international standard for shore power (IEC/IEEE/ISO 80005) and are also a member of this standard committee. PowerCon supplies both high and low voltage shore power solutions and covers all vessel types, from the largest cruise ships to container ships to smaller fishing vessels and ferries as seen from some of our main references below.
Project Role
Although occasionally functioning as sub-contractor for the shore power equipment, PowerCon has done many projects as turn-key supplier, undertaking the whole scope and implementing complete end-to-end solutions. Such additional tasks beyond the shore power system and cable management solution (CMS) can include grid connection upgrades, civil works, and cabling, as well as any related services such as maintenance, remote support, and daily operations.
Specifically for CMS, which ensures the cable connection between shore and ship, we have worked with all main companies who specialize in these solutions. Among others, these include Cavotec, Stemman-Technik, Igus, Zinus, and Shore-Link. However, PowerCon has also developed its own CMS designs, underlining why PowerCon is the most experienced and flexible shore power provider today.
High Voltage Shore Power References
Copenhagen – Denmark
After inauguration by the King of Denmark in mid-2025, this 4 x 16MVA shore power project for cruise ships became the largest installation in Europe. Able to supply up to 4 ships at the same time at 5 different berths, the unique CMS solution ensures full flexibility and fast ship connections. Energy chain solution is sub-contracted from Igus while the remaining equipment was designed, developed, and manufactured by PowerCon.
Amsterdam – Netherlands
Since mid-2025, this 16MVA system has supplied cruise ships with shore power. Sub-contracted from Stemmann-Technik, the mobile CMS vehicle can connect to one of five above-ground, inter-looped (daisy chained) connection boxes. With a public-accessible berth, safe and aesthetic integration with the cruise terminal’s surroundings was critical. Our containers were placed inside a building together with upgraded grid components.
Rotterdam – Netherlands
Starting operations in the spring of 2025, Rotterdam’s 16MVA shore power solution became the showcase of PowerCon’s own, new CMS solution. The mobile, underground connection box from Igus can run the entire length of the berth to connect any visiting cruise ship. The containerized shore power system is cooled with seawater and was integrated into an existing building with parking for the CMS vehicle as well.
Oslo – Norway
Oslo started their 16MVA shore power supply for cruise ships at their Revier Quay in the fall of 2024. The containerized shore power system connects 1 ship at a time via the tri-pod CMS vehicle from Zinus which can plug into 1 of the 3 above-ground, inter-looped (daisy chained) connection boxes. Due to the success of the project, the port is already implementing additional shore power capabilities.
Miami – USA
For PortMiami, PowerCon’s compact footprint proved critical to realize this 5 x 16MVA shore power project for cruise ships, making it the largest installation in North America as well as the world. PowerCon was chosen as sub-supplier for the shore power systems while Cavotec was separately contracted for the underground connection boxes and CMS vehicles. In mid-2024, the first cruise ship was connected to this impressive installation.
Barcelona – Spain
In mid-2024, PowerCon commissioned the 8MVA shore power solution at the BEST container terminal. Like many of PowerCon’s other container systems, and a unique feature of our design, this system is able to connect 2 container ships at the same time. 3 underground connection boxes together with a CMS vehicle ensure the cable connection on the dock. Boxes and trolley were sub-contracted from Stemmann-Technik.
Hamburg – Germany
At the Steinwerder cruise terminal in Hamburg, PowerCon’s end-to-end installation went into operation in the spring of 2024. The 16MVA shore power system supplies 1 ship at a time, connecting through the energy chain and mobile CMS vehicle sub-supplied by Stemmann-Technik. For space optimization and aesthetics, the containerized shore power system was integrated into a new building, equipped with solar panels.
Hamburg – Germany
In the fall of 2023, PowerCon delivered the shore power solutions for the Eurogate and the Altenwerder container terminals in Hamburg. Each system is an 8MVA shore power installation covering 3 berths. Each system can connect up to 2 ships at the same time. At Eurogate, the system was installed on a steel structure to account for flood levels. The energy chain CMS solution from Igus was used on both terminals.
Aarhus – Denmark
In mid-2023, PowerCon inaugurated the first cruise shore power installation in Denmark. Working closely with the utility and other on-going infrastructure projects, the layout incorporated a 10 ft. container on the dock functioning as an operations kiosk from where the entire installation can be controlled. The 2 above-ground, inter-looped (daisy chained) connection boxes and the mobile CMS vehicle were sub-contracted from Shore-Link.
Bergen – Norway
The shore power installation in Bergen consists of 3 systems of 16MVA to connect cruise ships with an additional 2 MVA for low voltage shore power for OSVs and similar-sized vessels. Entering operations in 2022, all 27 containers making up the combined shore power system were integrated into the same new building. CMS boxes (above ground) and vehicle were sub-contracted from Zinus. Sub-sea cable implemented for needed power supply from the grid.
Rostock – Germany
Starting operations in 2021, this 2 x 16MVA installation can plug in 2 cruise ships at the same time. Each system consists of seven 20 ft. containers. All containers are placed in the same location with an architect-designed shrouding of Corten steel around to make the installation blend in with the rest of the cruise terminal. CMS boxes (above ground) and vehicle were sub-contracted from Stemmann-Technik.
Southampton – England
Entering operation in 2021, our 16MVA shore power installation in Southampton was the first to have underground cable trenches and connection boxes that we also looped together (daisy chained). As the installation covers 2 berths, the system can, via an operations kiosk (10 ft. container), switch the power depending on where the cruise ship is docked. CMS boxes and vehicles sub-contracted from Stemmann-Technik.
Kristiansand – Norway
Inaugurated in 2018, Port of Kristiansand was PowerCon’s pilot project of showcasing a containerized shore power system for cruise ships to the world. The 16MVA system is housed in eight 20 ft. containers arranged back-to-back while the connection box on the berth was also designed and built by PowerCon. Cables are hand-lifted over to the ship personnel. Kristiansand has since purchased various other shore power systems from PowerCon.
Low Voltage Shore Power References
Grenaa
Denmark
Båtsfjord
Norway
Skagen
Denmark
PowerFlex
Over the recent years, PowerCon has started supplying shore power solutions for container terminals. Launched by a pilot project named “PowerFlex”, we set out to design and implement low-cost and flexible shore power supply for container ships that included onboard battery charging in the system design.
Background
Container ships continue to rely on the highly pollutant marine fuel to operate, contributing an estimated 50-60% of all ship emissions. If the electricity for shore power comes from renewables, the technology can eliminates all CO2, air pollutants, noise, and vibration at the container terminals by allowing the ships to plug in while they are in port. However, with the additional possibility to charge onboard batteries, shore power can have an even more significant global CO2 mitigation potential.
Pushing the boundaries
PowerCon has over the years been a part of the successful implementation of various shore power systems, particularly for cruise ships, adding significant savings to the cruise ports. This made it obvious to offer the same savings to the container ship segment and expand the system capabilities to charge onboard batteries too, collectively named OPS-Charger. Therefore, the main objective of this project was to advance the technological and market readiness of a competitive shore power solution to supply electricity to container ships at berth charge onboard batteries. For 36 months, we matured, tested, and demonstrated the OPS-Charger in a real case scenarios.
Outcome
The main outcome of the project was a market ready solution suitable for container ports around the world with an attractive payback period. Market adoption is expected to contribute to:
1) reduce greenhouse gas emissions, pollution, noise, and vibration from container ships at berth and at sea, thereby contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals 3, 7, 9, 11, 13, and 14.
2) the circular economy.
3) the creation of high-value blue economy jobs.
Overall, the ambition of this project was to significantly impact the blue economy areas of “New facilities that support the diversification or energy efficiency of ports” and “Cleaner shipping”. The project was supported by a BlueInvest grant from the European Union.
Market adoption
A critical milestone was reached in 2021 when the Port of Kristiansand in Norway became the first adopter of this solution, integrating shore power into it broader port electrification strategy with the charging capability. More ports have since followed, and PowerCon sees an increased interest for shore power from container terminals around the world.
