Pozzallo, €15 million tender to electrify port docks

It's only a matter of time before the port of Pozzallo can say goodbye to the use of fossil fuels, still essential for generating electricity onboard docked ships. These are typically powered by generators coupled with auxiliary diesel engines, which are particularly polluting and disturb marine life due to their noise. Thanks to a tender from the Ministry of Transport, won last September by the Port System Authority of the Eastern Sicily Sea for the cold ironing project, and funds made available by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) totaling approximately €15 million, the innovative system will be implemented. This system allows ships to turn off their auxiliary engines and connect to the shore-based power grid to obtain the necessary energy, ensuring the zero-emissions goal. Following the preparation of the technical-economic feasibility study and the executive project, developed by the Port System Authority with the assistance of external professionals, the tender has been published, and the contract is expected to be awarded by September 1st.

The goal is to electrify the docks—a process known as cold ironing—by connecting them to the national electricity grid. This will power the electrical loads of the individual ships docked at the dock, while the onboard generators will be deactivated. "To achieve this goal, the port infrastructure must be equipped with an efficient electrical system," explains Francesco Di Sarcina, President of the Eastern Sicilian Sea Port Authority. "A key element for providing this service is the shoreside infrastructure. This project is part of the port decarbonization process we initiated some time ago, which also includes Augusta, Catania, and Syracuse."

In Pozzallo, work is planned to upgrade and upgrade the current MV/LV systems (the systems for the distribution of high and low voltage electricity) throughout the port, not only for the cold ironing system but also to equip the port with electrical infrastructure adequate for its growing needs. Work will also include the construction of two 6.5 MW sockets, one at the shoreside quay and one at the commercial quay, through various activities. Specifically: two substations to transform the voltage required for the various equipment; MV power cables for distribution from the substations; a grid frequency conversion system; and a connection system to allow the onboard systems to be connected to the mainland systems, with a total of two sockets each capable of generating 6.5 MW.

The sockets will ensure connection to the cold ironing system for the following vessels: Roll-on/Roll-off (Ro-Ro), ferries designed to transport rubber-tyred vehicles and cargo, which are loaded and unloaded using autonomous rubber-tyred vehicles; Roll-on/Roll-off Passengers (Ro-Pax), ferries designed for the combined transport of passengers, cars, and heavy vehicles. The loading decks are configured to carry both heavy vehicles and cars accompanying passengers; and finally, container ships, used to transport containerized cargo (the latter have long layover times).