ABB Wins a Major Power Project!

Global automation giant ABB Group announced that it has signed an agreement with Rotterdam Shore Power (RSP) to design and build an integrated multi-facility shore-based power supply system for the Port of Rotterdam.

With a total capacity of over 100 MVA, this shore-based power system will become the world’s largest shore power project upon completion. Once operational, the facility will significantly reduce carbon emissions at the Port of Rotterdam and help the port meet compliance requirements under the FuelEU Maritime regulation. Per the regulation, starting January 1, 2030, all container ships and passenger vessels with a gross tonnage exceeding 5,000 tons calling at EU ports must use shore power or other equivalent zero-emission technologies.

This customized solution is scheduled to enter operation in the second half of 2028, supplying power to the three deep-water container terminals of Europe’s busiest port. The shore power facilities constructed by ABB will provide 35 power connection points for APM Terminals Maasvlakte II (APMT), Hutchison Ports ECT Delta and Hutchison Ports ECT Euromax, enabling simultaneous power supply for loading and unloading operations of up to 32 container ships. The agreement also includes tailored multi-year operation and maintenance (O&M) service clauses for each terminal. The relevant contract was officially signed in December 2025, with financial details of the project not disclosed to the public.

In addition to the design, supply and installation of the shore power system, ABB will also be responsible for on-site commissioning and testing. The project adopts prefabricated solutions to shorten the installation cycle and minimize disruptions to the port’s normal operations. Meanwhile, the shore power infrastructure features scalability to meet future business growth needs and is compatible with renewable energy integration. ABB’s supply scope also includes a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system, which enables real-time monitoring and dispatching of the shore power system, records power consumption data, and ensures accurate billing for customers.

When ships are berthed at the port, they can shut down their on-board engines by connecting to ABB’s shore power system. According to calculations by Rotterdam Shore Power, starting from 2030, if vessels calling at the three deep-water container terminals use shore power for more than 90% of their berthing time, approximately 96,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions can be reduced annually. In addition, the commissioning of the shore power system will completely eliminate noise pollution generated by ship engines, significantly improve air quality in the port area, and create a better working and living environment for port staff and surrounding residents.

Established in 2019 as a joint venture between the Port of Rotterdam Authority and Eneco, a leading Dutch international energy company, RSP saw the Port of Rotterdam Authority’s shareholding increase from 20% to 50% in 2023. Its core business covers the research and development, investment, construction, operation and maintenance, and financing of port shore power facilities. RSP provides end-to-end shore power solutions for international port terminals and shipping companies, ranging from preliminary research to green power supply. These solutions help ships shut down their diesel generators while berthing, thereby reducing harmful emissions such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter, as well as noise pollution, and ensuring compliance with regulations such as the EU FuelEU Maritime.

From left to right: Patrick Vroomen, Heidi Galvez (both from the Port Business Line of ABB’s Marine & Ports Division); Ina Barge, Tiemo Arkesteijn (Co-CEOs of Rotterdam Shore Power)

Ina Barge and Tiemo Arkesteijn, Co-CEOs of Rotterdam Shore Power, stated: “We are delighted to collaborate with ABB on this groundbreaking project. Leveraging ABB’s profound technical expertise and extensive project experience, APM Terminals Maasvlakte II and the ECT terminals at the Port of Rotterdam will achieve full shore power coverage, helping the port drastically cut carbon emissions. The Port of Rotterdam is taking a pioneering role in leading the large-scale electrification transformation of ports.”

ABB is a global leader in electrification and automation technologies, headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland. With a history spanning over 140 years, ABB employs approximately 110,000 people worldwide. Its diverse business portfolio covers electrification, automation, motion control, robotics and discrete automation, and process automation. The company offers a wide range of products, including various controllers, robots, electrical equipment and related software, which are widely used in industries such as energy, chemicals, power, manufacturing and transportation.

Rune Braastad, Head of ABB’s Marine & Ports Division, commented: “This large-scale multi-facility project for Rotterdam Shore Power fully demonstrates ABB’s full-chain shore power service capabilities, from solution design to grid connection and operation. Our efficient and proven turnkey solutions cover the entire lifecycle from design, commissioning and O&M to technical support, while minimizing disruptions to port operations during the installation phase. We are honored to support the Port of Rotterdam in accelerating the phase-out of fossil fuels and advancing the EU’s vision of zero-emission ports.”

This collaboration marks a milestone practice for ABB and Rotterdam Shore Power in the field of port electrification, and showcases a clear path for energy transformation in the global shipping industry. With the implementation of this world’s largest shore power system, the Port of Rotterdam will further consolidate its leading position as Europe’s shipping hub and inject crucial impetus into the achievement of the EU’s maritime decarbonization goals. Going forward, relying on its scalable technical architecture and renewable energy integration capabilities, this project is expected to become a benchmark model for green upgrading of ports worldwide, driving the shipping and port industries toward a more sustainable and efficient future.