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PORT OF KIEL
Shore Power – A Plug with “Sea Value”
Kiel is leading the way – for many years now, the PORT OF KIEL has been relying on shore power for seagoing vessels. This eco-friendly technology supplies ships at berth with electricity from shore (in Kiel: 100% green energy) via heavy-duty cables. This allows them to shut down their engines, which would otherwise run throughout their entire stay in port. The result? A major win for the environment – cutting CO₂ emissions as well as other harmful pollutants.
© Port of Kiel
In Kiel, Color Line and Stena Line ferries are connected to shore power every day. From late summer 2025, DFDS ferries serving the Baltic will also start trialling this low-emission technology. The cruise industry is on board too: from AIDAnova and MSC Euribia to Mein Schiff 7 and Costa Diadema – most cruise ships are already using shore power in Kiel, and by 2030, the goal is 100%.
More about shore power in Kiel: https://www.portofkiel.com/foerderhinweise/landstrom-terminals.html
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Frequently Asked Questions – and Answers
What kind of electricity is used in Kiel?
Our shore power systems run entirely on certified 100% green electricity.
How does shore power work
While docked, ships need electrical energy. Our systems allow for an almost zero-emission port stay. Diesel engines off – clean air on!
The diagram shows the layout of the Ostseekai/Schwedenkai facility – one of the largest in Europe – with a capacity of 16 MVA. Electricity from Kiel’s grid is adapted in the shore power facility to meet each vessel’s specific requirements. From the gas-insulated switchgear and 110 kV transformer, voltage is stepped down to 10 kV, fed into the converters, and adjusted to the correct frequency – most vessels run on 60 Hz rather than Europe’s 50 Hz. From there, electricity flows via distribution switchgear to the terminals, where it’s delivered directly to the vessels. At Schwedenkai, the connection is made via a fixed crane arm; at Ostseekai, a cable vehicle provides a flexible link between the ship and the shore connection box.
Will Shore Power Become Obsolete?
Even if alternative propulsion solutions are established by 2040/2050, we do not consider shore power to be a passing trend or merely a so-called bridge technology. On the contrary, we expect shore power at berth to remain the more cost-effective option for ports in the long term, given the production costs and global availability of hydrogen derivatives. In the future, the facility could also be used to charge electric propulsion systems such as onboard battery storage. And when that time comes, we’ll be ready.
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