Antwerp terminal to provide shore-side electricity

The Antwerp Euroterminal (AET) will be the first in Belgium to install shore-side electricity for seagoing vessels, the Port of Antwerp-Bruges reported in a press release on Wednesday. The installation will be operational in 2026.

Shore-side electricity supplies electricity to docked vessels in the port, connecting them to the electricity grid. This means ships do not have to run their engines on diesel, which is good for the planned greening of the ports. As the largest ultipurpose' terminal in Europe, the AET, owned by the Italian Grimaldi Group, now plans to install two shore-side power connections.

This makes them the first terminal in the port and in Belgium to provide a future-proof, fixed shore power installation for seagoing vessels. There are significant costs involved: the project requires a 25 to 30 million euro investment. The Flemish Agency for Innovation and Entrepreneurship granted a 4 million euro subsidy to build the two shore connections.

The power for the shore connection will come from wind turbines, solar panels and batteries and will thus be 100 per cent green.

^{#FlandersNewsService | Vehicles being prepared for transport at Antwerp Euroterminal in the port of Antwerp © BELGA PHOTO JONAS ROOSENS}