Researchers from the University of Portsmouth have contributed to a new white paper setting out what the UK's ports can learn from the city's pioneering shore power system.
The paper was launched as three vessels connected to the system at once, for the first time, to cut pollution.
Plugging in: Portsmouth's shore power journey and the future of clean ports was published by Portsmouth International Port with the British Ports Association. It brings together partners from across the Sea Change project to reflect on the development and delivery of the UK's first high-voltage, multi-berth, multi-frequency shore power system.
The launch this week (23 September) marked a milestone for the project. Two Brittany Ferries vessels and Phoenix Reisen's cruise ship MS Amadea plugged in simultaneously, which meant all three ships could switch off their engines while alongside and draw electricity from the shore instead.
Professor David Hutchinson, Professor of Global Environmental Solutions at the University's Centre for Environmental and Renewable Energy Solutions , wrote the paper's chapter "From infrastructure to insight: What Sea Change can teach us about port decarbonisation."
The University is one of the partners in Sea Change. The project received £19.8 million through the Zero Emission Vessels and Infrastructure (ZEVI) competition, which is funded by UK Government and delivered in partnership with Innovate UK. Portsmouth City Council provided match funding.
Throughout the project, University researchers have worked across energy systems modelling, digital twin development, environmental monitoring and data integration. They have combined information on vessel movements, air quality, water, sediment, weather and traffic to understand the impact of port decarbonisation in real-world conditions.
The paper is a chance to celebrate a major engineering and infrastructure achievement. It's also a chance to look ahead to the research and evidence that will help others build on what has been achieved in Portsmouth."
Professor David Hutchinson, Professor of Global Environmental Solutions at the University's Centre for Environmental and Renewable Energy Solutions
Professor Hutchinson said: "The paper is a chance to celebrate a major engineering and infrastructure achievement. It's also a chance to look ahead to the research and evidence that will help others build on what has been achieved in Portsmouth.
"One of the key lessons from Sea Change is that successful port decarbonisation is about more than infrastructure alone. Demonstrator projects like this give us the chance to do more than deploy new technology. We can measure its impact, understand how different systems interact, and generate knowledge that can inform future investment across the maritime sector. Infrastructure enables change, but evidence allows us to understand it."
The white paper stresses that long-term monitoring is essential to understand what changes over time and why, because ports sit within busy urban systems where shipping, road traffic and weather all interact. It also highlights how much shore power and hybrid vessels contribute to those changes.
Monitoring will continue throughout the demonstrator period, and University of Portsmouth doctoral researchers are already building on the data and digital systems the project has established. This work uses predictive analytics, machine learning and digital twin technology to forecast emissions, explore scenarios and support operational and investment decisions.
Professor Hutchinson added: "Portsmouth provides a living laboratory where researchers, industry and students can keep testing ideas, generating evidence and developing new approaches. If demonstrator projects are going to speed up maritime decarbonisation across the UK, combining technology with robust measurement, integrated data and long-term learning will be essential."
The shore power system became fully operational in July 2026. It is expected to save around 20,000 tonnes of CO2e a year.
Mike Sellers, Port Director at Portsmouth International Port, said: "This is a huge step forward for the UK's ports and maritime industries as we look to help the country reach net zero by 2050.
"Our white paper, jointly authored by the British Ports Association (BPA), covers not only Portsmouth's own shore power journey and what other ports can learn from us, but also calls to action on what is needed for scaling and rolling out the technology nationwide.
"We have worked with an impressive team of partners, Innovate UK, University of Portsmouth, Swanbarton, Barter4Things, MSE International, Balfour Beatty, ABB, AtkinsRealis, a host of contractors and subcontractors, not to mention the incredible in-house team who are now experts in their field of shore power."
The full white paper is available on the Portsmouth International Port website: www.portsmouth-port.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/pip-shore-power-white-paper-sept-26-accessible-aa.pdf
