Shore power terminals
at the PORT OF KIEL.

The expansion of the shore power infrastructure is one of our prioritised projects to reduce CO2 emissions and air/pollutant emissions from ships during lay times. Following the opening of the first shore power system at the Norwegenkai quay with a capacity of 4.5 MVA, 50 HZ, 10kV in 2019, a combined system to supply cruise ships at the Ostseekai quay (16 MVA, 50/60 Hz, 6.6/11kV) and ferries at the Schwedenkai quay (5 MVA, 50/60 HZ, 6.6/11kV) was opened in 2021. This makes the PORT OF KIEL an international pioneer among harbours.

 

 

2023: Shore power facilities
Ostuferhafen

The 17 million euro construction project at the Ostuferhafen comprises two shore power systems with the capacity to supply up to three seagoing vessels in parallel. The first of the two shore power systems is designed to supply one ferry and one cruise ship and connects four berths. It has an output of 16 MVA and can supply cruise ships and ferries with a frequency of 50 or 60 Hz and a voltage of 6.6 kV or 11 kV. The second shore power system with a 50 Hz mains frequency is designed exclusively for RoRo ships and supplies two berths with a voltage of 6.6 kV or 11 kV up to a maximum output of 4.5 MVA.

Cable wagon connecting ship to shore
Picture: PORT OF KIEL
Cable wagon for shore power with connection to the connection point
Picture: PORT OF KIEL

The cable wagon flexibly connects the connection point on land with the ship.

Underground shore power connection point with plugs in the Ostuferhafen
Picture: PORT OF KIEL

Underground connection point for shore power at berth no. 1

16 MVA shore power plant at Ostuferhafen
Picture: PORT OF KIEL

16 MVA system for ferries and cruise ships.

Cable arm for the shore power connection of ferries
Picture: PORT OF KIEL

The swivelling and rotating cable arm connects ferries to the shore power connection on land quickly and easily.

The construction project was realised with financial support from the federal government in accordance with Article 104b of the Basic Law and from state funds in accordance with Section 44 of the State Budget Code of Schleswig-Holstein in accordance with the guidelines for the granting of grants to promote shore power systems in commercial ports in Schleswig-Holstein.

 

 

2021: Shore power system
Ostseekai/Schwedenkai

Plug in, switch on the power. Sounds simple - but it's not that simple. Supplying ships with shore power requires a number of structural and technological developments. An innovative technology was developed specifically for supplying ships equipped to a wide range of standards from international shipping companies with varying requirements. The power requirements of the large ships during the berthing-time had to be calculated at 3-12 MW, which is comparable to the requirements of small towns. Added to this are the different voltages (6.6/10/11 kV) and frequencies (50/60 Hz) between the on-board and shore-side grids as well as the power available to the grid operator for different power requirements, particularly with regard to peak loads and short-circuit current requirements. The power drawn from the grid at 110 kV level cannot be fed into the ship via a simple cable connection, but must be adapted to the ship's technology via a special transformer station, transformers and frequency converters.

Shore power plant Ostseekai with AIDA ship
Picture: PORT OF KIEL
The cable wagon connects the ship to shore
Picture: PORT OF KIEL
Shore power connection at Schwedenkai via cable arm
Picture: PORT OF KIEL
Transformer station and cable arm for shore power connection of the Stena Line ferry
Picture: PORT OF KIEL
 

 

2019: Shore power system
Norwegenkai

The Color Line ferries have been using shore power at the Norwegenkai since spring 2019 and switch off the ship's diesel generators while they are berthed. This means they can stay in Kiel without pollutants. The two ships, ‘Color Fantasy’ and ‘Color Magic’, connect Kiel with Oslo every day. Arrival is at 10.00 a.m. with departure at 2.00 p.m. The annual electricity requirement during the berthing time is around four million kilowatt hours. The shore power system for Kiel's Norwegenkai has a maximum connected load of 4.5 megawatts (MW) at an electrical voltage of ten kilovolts (kV) and a grid frequency of 50 hertz (Hz).

Shore power plug Color Line at Norwegenkai
Picure: PORT OF KIEL

And this is how it works: The centrepieces of the system are the shore-to-ship transfer station (PLUG) from the manufacturer NG3 and the air-insulated, metal-encapsulated medium-voltage switchgear. The PLUG transfer station is equipped with a memory-programmed control system that communicates with the switchgear of the shore station. All necessary switching operations transmitted from the ship via the interface are carried out fully automatically. Before the power is transferred from shore to the ship, the system checks the correct plug and cable connections. Once this has been done, the shore power connection is switched on. The ship synchronises with the shore power system, which takes over the on-board power supply.

Graphic shore power connection at the Norwegenkai to the ship
Chart: PORT OF KIEL based on chart of Siemens AG