Vertically Integrated Cloud Based Ports

Approximately 95% of UK international trade is transported via ports. In 2016, domestic shipping alone (ships that start and end their journey in the UK, including overseas territories and Crown dependencies) accounted for 11% of the UK's total domestic NOx emissions, 2% of primary PM2.5 and 7% of SO2 (DfT, 2019). Globally, the shipping industry produces nearly 4% CO2, 10-15% of NOx and 4-6% of global sulfur oxides (SOx). The emissions level at our ports and shorelines is the most critically addressed environmental issue because several ports are near heavily populated cities and can cause negative impact on their surrounding communities. Indeed, air pollution and noise are strongly related to many current days heart and respiratory diseases and can lead to fatalities. The emission standards and the greener push have lagged for the shipping industry compared to regulations for on-land transport and other industries. However, now with Europe and US taking lead, the governments around the world are committing for stricter regulations and traditional technology is no longer an option. Full electrification of large ports and intelligent energy networks compose a very promising solution, not only for limiting the ports' greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions but also for the improvement of their efficiency, reducing energy consumption, saving money, and fostering economic growth. Additionally, ports' electrification helps to keep the ports' communities clean and improve public health and wellbeing. This project proposes a cloud-based industrial microgrid for ports deep electrification that simultaneously reduces costs and emissions, and hence reduces the impact of ports and shipping sector on the environment. The technology combines the smart microgrid technology with a higher-level cloud-based services platform that allows third party integration and add-on services. In the feasibility stage we will produce an emulated port platform that will be used to measure the environmental impact and business and environmental benefits of both short-term and long-term port operational scenarios.