Portsmouth's £24.4m green port project sits unused as energy costs soar

A £24.4 million project to cut ship emissions at Portsmouth International Port remains unused due to high electricity costs. The scheme, designed to let vessels plug into the grid instead of burning fuel, was meant to launch in spring 2023. Yet, with no connection to the National Grid and soaring energy prices, the system stays idle.

Port officials now fear the infrastructure could become obsolete before ever being switched on.

The Sea Change project received £19.8 million from the Department of Transport and £4.6 million from Portsmouth City Council. It allows ships to turn off engines and use onshore power at three of the port's five berths. The aim was to slash emissions and improve local air quality.

However, electricity from the grid costs four times more than marine fuel. Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) has yet to link the system to the National Grid, leaving it non-functional. Mike Sellers, the port's director, warned that persistently high energy prices could render the project a 'redundant asset'.

Meanwhile, other European ports are pushing ahead with similar technology. Bremerhaven will become the first to power an autocarrier entirely via land electricity in 2026. EU rules now demand onshore power for container, ferry, and cruise berths in major ports by 2030. Successful schemes in Aarhus, Göteborg, and Stockholm have already been funded through the Connecting Europe Facilities programme.

The British Ports Association has criticised the UK government for failing to tackle rising energy costs in the sector. This comes as Labour's plans to align British law with stricter EU renewable energy targets gather pace under Sir Keir Starmer's leadership.

Even Brittany Ferries, Portsmouth's largest customer, continues burning marine fuel while docked. Though its two hybrid ships can plug in, the company avoids doing so because of the prohibitive cost.

The stalled project highlights the gap between green ambitions and economic reality for UK ports. Without cheaper electricity or government intervention, the infrastructure may never be used. Other European hubs, meanwhile, are moving forward with working systems under tighter EU regulations.