The Future of Sustainable Cruising: Building the Connections Between Ships, Ports and Power

As the cruise industry accelerates its transition towards lower-emission operations, success increasingly depends on more than the vessel alone. Delivering sustainable cruising requires coordinated investment across ports, energy infrastructure, regulatory frameworks and the wider maritime value chain. This keynote will explore how cruise operators, ports, utilities and policymakers are working together to address the practical challenges of decarbonisation, from shore power deployment and grid capacity to emerging energy solutions and operational readiness. The session will provide insights into the opportunities and barriers facing the sector, highlighting the partnerships and infrastructure needed to support the next generation of sustainable cruise operations while maintaining growth, competitiveness and passenger expectations.

Powering the Maritime Energy Transition: Batteries at the Heart of Integrated Port Energy Systems

As ports evolve into integrated energy hubs, batteries are becoming a critical component in enabling the next generation of maritime infrastructure. Beyond supporting vessel electrification, battery energy storage systems play a central role in balancing grid demand, integrating renewable energy, improving energy resilience and enabling the efficient deployment of shore power and future alternative fuels. This keynote will explore how battery technologies are transforming the way ports generate, store, manage and distribute energy. It will examine the strategic role of energy storage in supporting integrated port energy systems, reducing pressure on electrical grids, increasing operational flexibility and accelerating the transition towards resilient, low-emission maritime operations. Drawing on international experience and the latest industry developments, the session will provide delegates with a forward-looking perspective on how batteries are becoming the cornerstone of sustainable port ecosystems, supporting not only today's electrification projects but also the future integration of hydrogen, smart grids, digital energy management and emerging maritime energy solutions. As the opening keynote of Day 2, this session will establish the strategic context for the discussions that follow, demonstrating why battery technologies are fundamental to building the integrated, resilient and future-ready ports of tomorrow.

Syb ten Cate Hoedemaker

Maritime Battery Forum

Ports as Energy Systems: From Consumption to Active Energy Management

As electrification accelerates, ports are shifting from passive energy consumers to active managers of complex power systems. This session examines how ports can monitor, optimise and coordinate energy flows across shore power, on-site generation, storage and grid connections. It will address load forecasting, demand-side management, digital control systems and real-time optimisation, highlighting how ports can balance operational demand with grid constraints while improving efficiency and resilience. Through practical examples, the discussion will clarify how active energy management is becoming a core capability for ports seeking to scale electrification and meet decarbonisation targets.

Volker Oboda

Mod

Aupuras

Kristian Torvold

Ocean SUN

Juan Esteban Vesga

ABS

Dharmendra Umarnani

Schneider Electric

From Vision to Investment: Unlocking EU Funding for the Infrastructure That Powers Europe's Energy Transition

Europe's energy transition will ultimately be defined not by ambition alone, but by the ability to finance and deliver the infrastructure required to achieve it. While technologies such as shore power, battery energy storage, renewable energy and grid modernisation are rapidly advancing, their successful deployment depends on securing the right investment mechanisms.

Rodrick Zerafa

Servizzi Ewropej f'Malta (SEM)

MegaWatt Shore Power Without Grid Constraints: Alternative Pathways for Port Electrification

As ports accelerate the deployment of shore power, limited grid capacity has become one of the greatest barriers to large-scale electrification. This session explores alternative approaches to delivering megawatt-scale shore power without relying solely on conventional grid reinforcement. Drawing on practical experience and real-world applications, the presentation will examine how decentralised power generation can provide flexible, resilient and scalable energy solutions, enabling ports to accelerate electrification while supporting the transition towards integrated port energy systems.

On-Site Renewable Generation at Ports: Wind, Solar, Capacity and Spatial Constraints

Ports are increasingly exploring on-site renewable energy generation to support electrification and reduce dependence on external power supply. However, the deployment of wind and solar within port environments is constrained by limited space, operational layouts, permitting requirements, and grid connection capacity. This session examines the technical and spatial realities of integrating renewable generation directly within port infrastructure, assessing how much capacity can realistically be installed and how it can be aligned with fluctuating energy demand. Through practical examples and engineering insight, the discussion will evaluate the role of on-site renewables within broader port energy systems and clarify where hybrid approaches, including grid reinforcement and storage, remain essential to achieving reliable and scalable decarbonisation.

From Grid to Vessel: System‑Level Benefits and Technical Considerations of Medium‑Voltage Architectures for Onshore Power Supply

Medium-voltage (MV) architectures are increasingly becoming a critical component in the next generation of high-capacity shore power systems. As ports prepare to accommodate larger vessels and higher energy demand, this session will examine how MV converter configurations can improve power quality, operational reliability, thermal performance and grid-code compliance compared to traditional low-voltage solutions. The discussion will also address system integration challenges, lifecycle efficiency, protection strategies and the role of MV systems in supporting scalable and resilient OPS deployment across cruise, cargo and offshore applications.

Johannes Burkard

Innomotics

Making the Right Electrification Choices: Navigating Investment Decisions in an Era of Integrated Energy Systems

As maritime decarbonisation accelerates, shipowners and operators are under increasing pressure to make investment decisions that remain commercially viable over the long term. However, evolving regulations, geopolitical uncertainty, fluctuating energy markets, rapid advances in battery technologies and the expansion of shore power infrastructure have created an increasingly complex decision-making environment. This keynote explores how organisations can make informed electrification choices by evaluating technologies within the broader context of integrated energy systems. Rather than assessing vessels in isolation, the session demonstrates how fleet electrification must align with port infrastructure, grid capacity, shore power availability, renewable energy integration and future operational requirements. Through practical case studies and scenario-based simulations covering both vessel retrofits and newbuild projects, attendees will gain insight into how digital modelling can compare alternative technology pathways, optimise battery sizing and operational performance, and reduce investment risk under changing market and regulatory conditions. As ports evolve into integrated energy hubs, this session provides a practical framework for making resilient investment decisions that support long-term decarbonisation objectives while balancing operational efficiency, infrastructure readiness and commercial competitiveness.

Teemu Kyläkallio

Rauma Marine Constructions

Beyond Shore Power: Distributed Hydrogen and Flexible Energy Systems for Future Ports

As ports transition from standalone shore power projects to fully integrated energy systems, new approaches are required to balance increasing electricity demand, renewable integration and grid resilience. This session explores how distributed hydrogen generation and methanol reforming can complement electrification strategies by providing flexible, on-demand energy production for ports and industrial environments. Through practical examples, the discussion will examine how hydrogen, local power generation and alternative fuels can contribute to resilient, scalable and future-ready port energy systems.

Adrià Sancho Fibla

e1 Marine

Why Storage Is No Longer Optional for Electrified Ports

As ports scale electrification and expand shore power operations, variability in both energy supply and demand introduces significant operational and grid challenges. This session examines the role of energy storage—particularly battery energy storage systems (BESS)—in stabilising load profiles, managing peak demand, and supporting the integration of intermittent renewable energy. It will address system sizing, response times, grid interaction and operational performance, highlighting how storage underpins reliability in continuous, high-load environments. Through practical examples, the discussion will demonstrate why storage has moved from a supplementary solution to a core infrastructure component for ports aiming to deliver resilient, scalable and cost-effective electrification.

Financing Integrated Energy Systems

PPP models, green bonds, and bankable frameworks for port energy infrastructure.

BESS for Load Levelling and Peak Shaving in Continuous Shore Power Operations

Offshore and Near-Port Wind Integration: Grid Capacity, Stability and System Constraints

Amitava Kumar Ghosh

DNV