The Challenge
Large ships burning diesel while docked are a major source of air pollution and greenhouse gases in port cities. Providing them with clean grid power—shore power or “cold ironing”—requires safe, standards-compliant electrical infrastructure: substations, frequency conversion, and robust safety interlocks. Both the Port of Montreal and the Port of Vancouver aimed to reduce emissions and improve air quality for surrounding communities while staying competitive.
The Solution
As Technical Leader at Schneider Electric, I led the technical design and delivery of ship-to-shore power solutions at two of Canada’s largest ports. My responsibility was the end-to-end electrical and control design: substation architecture, grid interface, protection and safety interlocks, and compliance with utility and marine standards, through to commissioning and first-vessel connection.
Port of Montreal — Alexandra Cruise Terminal: Schneider Electric delivered the first cruise terminal shore power deployment in Canada. Docked vessels connect to the electrical grid and shut down their diesel engines. The solution is based on the EcoStruxure platform and uses intelligent devices including substation automation relays and power monitoring. The system was successfully commissioned in August 2017; the Holland America cruise ship Veendam was the first vessel to use it at the new Alexandra Cruise Terminal in Old Montreal.
Port of Vancouver — Centerm Container Terminal (DP World): Schneider Electric Canada was selected by the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority to develop shore power at Centerm. The EcoStruxure-based design delivers an intelligent, standards-compliant shore power system so docked container ships can shut down their engines and plug into electrical power from BC Hydro. The system was successfully commissioned and connected to the first container ship on October 15, 2018. The solution was designed and commissioned by Schneider Electric Canada and PBX Engineering, and installed by Houle Electric.
Key Achievements
- Montreal: First cruise terminal shore power deployment in Canada for Schneider Electric; 2,800 tonnes GHG eliminated annually; Port of Montreal won the Prix AQTr Environnement Award (2018).
- Vancouver: First container ship connected to shore power at the Port of Vancouver’s Centerm (DP World); ~95 tonnes GHG and ~31 tonnes fuel saved per 60 hours per ship; qualifies ships for EcoAction program and Blue Circle Award.
- Standardization: The design approach became a global standard offering for Schneider Electric (50+ shore power deployments in North America).
- Smart integration: EcoStruxure enables ports to track ship operational data, energy consumption, system performance, and billing via user-friendly monitoring.
What the Clients Said
“This project makes it possible to refuel vessels with cleaner energy during their stay at the Port of Montreal and it will lead to a reduction of 2,800 tonnes per year of greenhouse gas emissions, equivalent to the GHGs emitted by 700 motor vehicles. Such recognition enables the Port of Montreal to strengthen its positioning as a sustainable port and a leader in green navigation.”
— Daniel Dagenais, Vice-President, Operations, Port of Montreal
“Over 60 hours of shore power use, one large container ship will reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by an anticipated 95 tonnes and save about 31 tonnes of fuel. This not only helps the environment, but also positions British Columbia’s trade sectors to take advantage of growth opportunities and ensure our competitiveness in this market.”
— Tom Corsie, Vice President Real Estate, Vancouver Fraser Port Authority
Resources
- Newswire: Schneider Electric Shore Power helps Port of Montreal win Prix AQTr Environnement Award
- Newswire: Schneider Electric showcases shore power for cruise ships at Port of Montreal (Aug 2017)
- Newswire: Schneider Electric connects first container ship to shore power at Port of Vancouver Centerm (Jan 2019)
- Transport Canada: Vancouver Fraser Port Authority shore power project
- Electrical Line: Schneider Electric connects first container ship to shore power at Port of Vancouver Centerm
- Port of Montreal: Electrifying the Port – beacon electricity
- Schneider Electric Blog: How electrification can decarbonize ports