The port of Kiel on a path to climate neutrality

The Port of Kiel has set the goal of reducing its CO2 emissions to zero by 2030. The path to climate neutrality is described in a three-stage plan that substantiates the BLUE PORT concept of the port, with onshore electricity supply for ships as one of the key elements. After the first system for shoreside electricity supply went online in May 2019, the second, larger system at the Ostseekai went into operation the following year. Since then, the port has not only been supplying daily the ferries of Stena Line and Color Line, but focusing on low-emission power supply for cruise ships.

A total of 19 calls were supplied with European green electricity in 2022. Currently, two more shore power plants for cruise ships and ferries are under construction, so that after completion in 2023/24 all main cruise terminals will offer shore power. These plans make the Port of Kiel one of Europe's pioneers in the expansion of shore power infrastructure for ships.

“Shore power is an essential component of our sustainable orientation. We hope to have about 85 per cent of the ships plugged in during their berthing times from 2025 onwards. For us, it is clear that climate-neutral berthing times in ports are an important part of the future of shipping tourism”
- Dirk Claus, Managing Director, Port of Kiel