Mathematical Tool Kit

The deliverable (D5) presents the mathematical toolkit that simulates the grid impacts of electrification in ports and proposes standardized methodologies for their evaluation. Electrification of ports includes developing power supplies for ships, port equipment, and vehicles, together with broader infrastructure and grid capacity to support the adoption of electric transport and the production of e-fuels in ports.

The deliverable supports the objectives of Task 2.3, advancing the reliable grid Impact assessment of Zero-Emission Refueling Infrastructure. The objectives include:

• Developing in-depth case studies to understand the real-world implications of grid impacts caused by electrified ports.
• Analyzing how infrastructure and fueling needs for zero-emission transport at European ports will affect the distribution grids.
• Formulating standardized methodologies to evaluate the grid impacts of electrified transport and e-fuel production at European ports.

The report demonstrates the following significant outcomes.

Despite the pivotal role of port electrification in decarbonizing maritime logistics, there is little consensus on what “port electrification” entails, which hinders port infrastructure planning. The deliverable develops a novel three-phase typology of port electrification, enabling consistent evaluation of decarbonization pathways in integrated port systems by providing clearer, more precise, and unambiguous formulations.

Selecting the right methodological foundation is crucial to developing the mathematical toolkit for port electrification assessment, as it defines the boundaries of its future potential. The deliverable provides a detailed assessment of existing approaches to modeling sustainable port infrastructure and shipping and demonstrates the significant potential of agent-based simulation models for real-world decision-making in the changing maritime sector. It also shows that agent-based models are trusted by maritime stakeholders.

The deliverable develops a framework to evaluate optimal charger locations for inland ports and the corresponding power supply demands, accounting for variables such as potential new charging stations. This approach aims to minimize investment costs while meeting the physical constraints of the transport and grid systems. The agent-based framework for assessing the inland electric ship charging infrastructure is applied to the in-depth case study of the Danube Inland Navigation System and demonstrates that infrastructure configuration is a primary determinant of the feasibility of shipping electrification. The framework provides significant decision support for the multi-objective assessment of the performance of the battery-powered waterborne transport system, with a focus on infrastructure.

In addition to measuring total electricity demand, the deliverable presents a tool for grid-ready shore power planning using real-world port-call data. The tool is demonstrated for power load characterization at the Port of Valencia, where it constructs a high-resolution electrical load profile and characterizes operational shore power demand by vessel category, time, and berth zone, thereby identifying the main drivers of energy use, peak load, ramping stress, and future grid-planning requirements.