Ferries and cruise ships are now plugging into Portsmouth International Port’s shore power system, as it strives to become the country’s first zero-emissions port by 2050.
Brittany Ferries’ hybrid-electric ships, St Malo and Guillaume de Normandie were the first to use the facility during the system’s final testing phase, marking a milestone in the decarbonisation of the port. Two cruise ships, Aida’s AIDAsol, followed by Phoenix Reisen’s Amera, have taken electricity onboard during commissioning. These are the first steps to the system realising its full potential, when three ships plug in simultaneously, which is expected to happen later in 2026.
Funded with £19.8m from the Department for Transport and £4.6m from Portsmouth City Council, this is the UK’s first multi-berth, multi-user, multi-frequency shore power system. As well as improving air quality onshore, the system is projected to help avoid emissions of around 20,000t CO2e from 2027, helping Portsmouth’s aim to become the country’s first emissions-free port by 2050.
Mike Sellers, Portsmouth International Port director, said: “This is a huge moment not only for us, but also for the UK ports industry as a whole, as we are now the country’s first port to offer multi-berth, multi-user shore power. 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.”
While electricity prices remain high, the port, the council and Brittany Ferries have worked hard together to strike a deal to ensure the company’s two shore-power-ready ferries can plug in.
Sellers added: “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, Brittany Ferries CEO, said: “As we mark half a century of serving Portsmouth, it’s crucial that we look forward as well as back, and shore power does exactly that. This isn’t just leading-edge technology, it’s a concrete step in our decarbonisation journey and, perhaps most importantly, a commitment to being a good neighbour. The most immediate benefit is cleaner air for the people who live and work around the port. And for our customers too, it means greener travel. 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 contributing to construction of the system, Portsmouth City Council provided £3m to secure the power that was needed from the grid.
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.
Image: Shore power at Portsmouth Port goes live (source: Portsmouth International Port)
