Implementation of energy recovery and storage systems in cranes in the Port of Gävle

Abstract: Container traffic in seaports around the world in constantly increasing, with energy costs being a significant part of the total costs. The container terminal (CT) of the Port of Gävle, the largest in the east coast of Sweden, is not an exception to this. With traffic growing annually, a new terminal will be opened in the following years, adding three more ship-to-shore (STS) cranes to the two existing ones, and six electric rubber tyred gantry (eRTG) cranes. Therefore, it is highly important to strengthen energy efficiency measures, reducing the energy consumption and the costs associated with it. This is why the aim of this report is to analyse whether implementing energy storage systems in the cranes of the container terminal Port of Gävle can contribute to reduce electricity costs by recovering energy when braking lowering containers, and by shaving power peaks. After a literature review of current energy recovery and storage options, this work presents three solutions: two alternatives for the current situation with two ship-to-shore (STS) cranes, and a third solution to be implemented in the three future STS cranes to be installed, which can also be beneficial for any other crane in the terminal. According to the made calculations, the three alternatives can reduce considerable energy consumption, and they are highly profitable. However, those solutions are a preliminary study and more work needs to be done to determine the exact profitability and technical system details. This work has been done in collaboration with the Port of Gävle and Yilport, the company operating the container terminal.