The Port of Gothenburg has initiated the construction of a transformer station, which will facilitate shore power connections for container and car/RoRo vessels.

This development aligns with the port's commitment to reduce emissions and comply with forthcoming EU regulations mandating Onshore Power Supply (OPS) for large ships.

The total investment for OPS, which includes cable installations and switchgear for seven berths, is estimated at about Skr600m ($62.5m).

The project is supported by the EU's Connecting Europe Facility fund, contributing approximately Skr90m towards the initiative.

The new transformer station will allow vessels to switch from fossil fuels to quay-side electricity while docked, significantly reducing CO₂, sulphur oxides, and nitrogen oxides emissions.

It is designed to enable simultaneous shore power connections to five berths in the container terminal and two in the car terminal, with each output offering a capacity of 4MVA per berth. This capacity can be doubled by combining two outputs into one connection point.

The port estimates a potential annual reduction of at least 5,600 tonnes (t) of CO₂ emissions from container vessels alone.

Port of Gothenburg head of business area cargo Magnus Nordfeldt said: “This transformer station is an important milestone that brings us significantly closer to shore-side power connection for container and car/RoRo vessels.

“It enables electrical connection at a total of seven berths – five at the container terminal and two at the car terminal.”

Gruppen Sweden's division, Bygg Väst, has secured the contract valued at Skr129m for the transformer station.

The facility will be located at the northernmost part of the car terminal, covering an area of roughly 56m by 18m.

It will have a 19-megavolt ampere (MVA) capacity and is expected to commence in the second quarter of 2025, with completion targeted for March 2027.

Gruppen Sweden executive vice president Bård Frydenlund said: “We are pleased to be entrusted with contributing to a more sustainable port operation and look forward to starting our first collaboration with the Port of Gothenburg.”

In November 2023, the Port of Gothenburg in Sweden unveiled plans to refurbish its energy port, which involves the reconstruction of the 300m long Kustkajen quay, to facilitate the transition to renewable fuels.