As a maritime nation, the UK depends on its port infrastructure and it is essential to find ways of de-carbonising ports as part of the nation's zero-carbon ambition. The PESO project will make significant progress towards achieving that goal, by piloting a solution that could be rolled out across the UK port sector.

Ports are major users of energy, for operation of dockside handling facilities and powering of port vessels such as pilot craft and tugs. In addition, berthed vessels use energy to power their onboard facilities, which on a cruise liner are very extensive. Under pressure to improve air quality and reduce their carbon footprint, ports are trying to reduce their use of fossil fuels and to use electricity instead. Initiatives to electrify infrastructure or to install onsite renewable generation at ports (Eg solar PV on the large roof area in ports) may be stalled by the requirement for expensive network reinforcement to meet the potentially higher electricity import and/or export loads.

PESO will overcome this problem by integrating a novel battery technology into the port energy network, optimised to suit the port environment. Energy generated onsite can be stored in the battery until it is needed. An advanced energy management system can optimise the energy flow around the port, and coordinate with the grid, in order to optimise the cost effectiveness of the overall system, and reduce or eliminate grid reinforcement costs. These benefits will accelerate the pace of investment in port de-carbonisation.

The PESO pilot system will be deployed in Portsmouth International Port, where it can integrate the port's investment in solar power and in the battery storage. Energy management software will be developed by Swanbarton, while the Energy Systems Catapult will model impacts on the local and national grid. Marine South East is leading the project, and will plan how the technology can be rolled out across UK ports as rapidly as possible.