This conference titled Port Decarbonisation and Environmental Sustainability is being held on the 17th September 2024 in preparation of the opening of ESA Space Solutions Funding that is opening in 2024/2025. The conference is being held at the Belfast Harbour Commission on 17th September 2024.

According to the International Energy Agency, shipping accounted for 2% of global energy-related emissions in 2022. With the International Maritime Organization (IMO) aiming to halve this figure by 2050 in an industry still heavily reliant on fossil fuels, taking steps to decarbonise ports is a priority.

This event will examine the needs and priorities of the port sector around the themes of decarbonisation and sustainability and explore possible roles for current and emerging space data and services in supporting the green transition of port ecosystems. 

Workshop overview

This one-day workshop will be hosted by the Belfast Harbour Commission on behalf of the European Space Agency (ESA) and the United Kingdom Space Agency (UKSA). The workshop will examine industry requirements for decarbonisation in known priority areas including: 

• onshore power
• green shipping corridors 
• uptake of renewable energy solutions
• impact of changing Net Zero regulations in 2025

Efficiency gains achievable through the digitalisation of port operations will be examined including monitoring the impact of decarbonisation on port air quality, greenhouse gas emissions and water quality. 

Emerging solutions enabled by space data and services will be presented and their potential for commercial exploitation by the port industry will be explored.

How can space help with port decarbonisation?

Applications aimed at reducing carbon emissions through space technologies are being developed across multiple sectors. This event will look at how space data and innovative technologies can help ports address their key sustainability challenges. These include:
•    Optimisation and energy efficiency technologies applied to the port sector.
•    Vessel efficiency focused on data, software or autonomy.
•    Autonomous vessels and port vehicles including subsystems such as control systems and sensors.
•    New measures driving port decarbonisation including sensors and robotic systems.
•    Port operations optimisation and digitisation.
•    Digital tools such as for port emissions monitoring.
•    Opportunities to introduce new technologies into the maritime sector.

This exciting event will interest port operators, users, and stakeholders with ambitions towards decarbonization and Net Zero port operations; service providers offering relevant transferable technologies from the space and other sectors, and representatives from the SME sector looking for markets for their early stage (TRL 4-6 use cases) capabilities.

For more information click here.