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Schneider Electric case: Landstrøm i Faaborg Havn

First mover: Faaborg Harbour invests in shore power

As the first commercial port in Denmark, Faaborg Harbour has established a shore power installation to increase its competitiveness and, not least, to establish an environmentally friendly power supply for ships in port.

Faaborg Harbour has a long and distinguished history in Danish shipping and dates back to the 17th century. The harbour is both a ferry port, a fishing harbour, a highly visited marina and commercial port, as well as home base for the shipping company Blue Star Line. Often, at least two of the company's large ships, that solve special tasks for the offshore industry, are found at the quay in Faaborg Harbour, while the crew works to rig the ships and get ready for the next task.

The work on board the ships requires electricity. Previously, the ships generated the electricity themselves with diesel generators. However, diesel generators in constant operation in a port are a major burden on the environment. Especially in Faaborg, it was a nuisance to the neighbours, as the harbour is located in the middle of the city and the machine noise was loud and infuriating.

Therefore, Faaborg Harbour contacted the company Priess A/S, a nationwide specialist in transformer stations and engineering houses. Priess offered the port a complete solution in a full contract including digging and moulding as well as connection. In collaboration with the harbour in Faaborg and Schneider Electric they chose two powerful Galaxy VM 200 kVA UPS units for a total of 400 kVA for the conversion.

"Often, it takes some effort to be a first mover. When you are investing in the future development of the port, thinking about the infrastructure is crucial. Shore power is the future of ports and I am convinced that this will be an important factor in the game of attracting more ships. Now, we are ready for growth with modern facilities and capacity to accommodate more and larger ships, for example cruise ships,” says Lasse Vendelbo Olsen, harbour master at Faaborg Harbour.

The harbour master emphasises that the new installation enables Faaborg Harbour to supply ships with power at both 50 and 60 Hz. The Galaxy series are best known as an emergency power supply, but it can also be used favourably in other applications. In a modified version, the Galaxy VM is suitable for converting the frequency from the normal 50 Hz in the Danish supply network to the 60 Hz that many ships' electrical installations require.

Henrik Grønning, Sales Manager at Schneider Electric Denmark, also points out that the installation ECOn technology has the advantage that the conversion takes place with a minimal energy loss. Furthermore, he emphasises that Faaborg Harbour has chosen an extremely environmentally friendly solution.

“Shore power is an important competitive parameter in the steps towards increased regulatory requirements for less emission from the ships in port. In the future, there will be no CO2 emissions from the ships' own machines or generators. In addition, the users of the port and nearest neighbours will undoubtfully be happy that the noises are now disappearing completely, and of course it is attractive for shipping companies that the work on ships in port in the future can be carried out around the clock. We have high expectations from our shore power installations, since installing shore power will be relevant to all Danish ports,” he says.