A view from the elemed event – one of the the panels with Dimitrios N. Vlachos at the podium
Designing the roadmap for the use of electrification for sustainable marine transportation in Eastern Mediterranean
The design of a modern regulatory framework for the use of electricity as sustainable alternative fuel, with substantial environmental and economic benefits for Greek ports, enhancing insularity and the sustainability of marine transport, was pinpointed at the forum organised by Elemed project at the Laskaridis Foundation in Piraeus last Friday 30th June 2017.
The event became the commonplace and raised discussion among shipping and energy stakeholders, public bodies’ representatives, regulatory and port authorities as well as partners of the EU project Elemed. During his welcome address, Dr Dionysios Papachristou, Press & Public Relations Manager of the Regulatory Authority for Energy (RAE) underlined that “RAE’s role is to contribute to the formation of a regulatory framework that will facilitate entrepreneurship in the field of energy for marine transportation, while serving the common good and financial prosperity”.
In the cadre of the forum, an open consultation took place on Elemed’s key policy recommendations for the development of a complete regulatory framework that will support the implementation of electrification technology in ports and will introduce the idea of sustainable ship. Specific emphasis was given to the inclusion of electric energy in the list of marine fuels, with equivalent or event more favourable terms than conventional fuels.
Main aspects of the Elemed project were also presented, as well as international applications of innovative technologies of electrification in ports and ships. The prospects of the use of the above technology in Piraeus port, were also highlighted.
Panayiotis Mitrou, Technology & Innovation Manager, Marine & Offshore, Lloyd’s Register South Europe added: “The fastest developing technology in shipping globally with Greece appearing as ideal implementation field. It offers a unique opportunity to capitalise Greece’s insularity and turn shipping and port infrastructure towards a sustainable future”.
About elemed
Elemed (Electrification in the Eastern Mediterranean) prepares the ground for the introduction of cold ironing, electric bunkering and hybrid ships across the Eastern Mediterranean Sea corridor, aiming at eliminating emissions & noise in ports and surrounding urban area. It is a co-funded by European Union project, studying all technical, regulatory and financial issues related to the establishment of cold-ironing infrastructure, in four ports (Piraeus, Killini, Lemesos, Koper), involving three countries. Within elemed framework, the first pilot cold-ironing infrastructure in Eastern Mediterranean will be established in Killini Port.
