Demand for shore power in Copenhagen ports surges

Copenhagen Malmö Port reports that demand for shore power at its terminals in Nordhavn and Langelinie has been overwhelming over the past year, with two facilities now supplying electricity to cruise ships docked in the Danish capital.

The system allows vessels to shut down their engines and draw power from the grid via a CMS crane, cutting fossil fuel use while in port. According to the port operator, about 79% of cruise ships calling at Copenhagen are expected to use shore power this year.

Copenhagen Municipality data indicates the switch can reduce dockside pollution by 90%. Povl Ungar, commercial director at Copenhagen Malmö Port, called the benefits substantial for both global emissions and local air quality.

“It doesn’t just help global emissions. It also benefits our colleagues working on the quay, our partners, and our neighbours. It’s a huge gain,” Ungar said.

Passenger Evelyn Lumliy, visiting from England, described the initiative as “brilliant” for reducing emissions, though she does not actively seek out environmentally certified trips when booking. Demand is expected to rise further ahead of an EU mandate requiring shore power for cruise ships by 2030.