Dr Jonathan Williams, CEO of MSE International, has contributed his expertise to a new White Paper published by Portsmouth International Port, sharing valuable lessons from the delivery of the UK's first multi-berth, multi-frequency, high-voltage shore power system. 

Produced by Portsmouth International Port, as part of its SeaChange Project, the White Paper brings together insights from industry partners involved in the project and provides a practical account of the challenges, solutions and lessons learned from delivering one of the UK's most significant shore power installations. 

As the UK works towards the Government’s ambition of achieving net zero across the maritime sector by 2050, systems like the Portsmouth shore power facility need to be replicated in ports across the country, so the port wanted to make sure lessons are learnt and insight shared on what it is like to complete this highly complex project.

The project has been a five-year journey from securing extra power from the grid, laying cables while the port still operates, to three ships being able to plug in, on Wednesday 23rd September it was two Brittany Ferries and Phoenix Reisen’s Amadea.

Mike Sellers, Portsmouth International Port’s director said: “This is a huge step forward for the UK’s ports and maritime industries as we look to help the country reach net zero by 2050.

“Our white paper jointly authored by the British Ports Association (BPA) covers not only Portsmouth’s own shore power journey and what other ports can learn from us, but also calls to action on what is needed for scaling and rolling out the technology nationwide.

“We have worked with an impressive team of partners, Innovate UK, University of Portsmouth, Swanbarton, Barter4Things, MSE International, Balfour Beatty, ABB, AtkinsRealis, a host of contractors and subcontractors, not to mention the incredible in-house team who are now experts in their field of shore power.”

To find out more please read the white paper, Plugging in