TOLL Group’s adoption of shore power technology at the Port of Burnie has been officially commissioned this week following a series of final operational tests and regulatory checks.
When the project is completed, Toll’s recently commissioned flagship vessels – Tasmanian Achiever II and Victorian Reliance II – will be able to draw clean power from the state’s green energy grid while docked, limiting the need for diesel generators.
Toll executive general manager Tasmania and shipping Steven Borg said the new technology and infrastructure made commercial and environmental sense with the switch to grid power expected to see the two vessels’ combined greenhouse gas emissions reduced by more than 5500 tonnes per year and some 2000 tonnes of diesel saved.
“While the global pandemic has made bringing this world leading technology to the Port of Burnie slightly more complicated, today is a very exciting moment for us, our customers, partners and Burnie’s community,” he said.
“Investment in our key infrastructure, like this project, ensures we’re able to deliver for our customers and support communities in an even more efficient and most importantly sustainable way.”
The new infrastructure includes a new substation and cable dispenser, and a high voltage 11-kV power system for Toll’s terminal which has been designed and delivered in collaboration with TasNetworks and TasPorts.
The new power system will also increase terminal refrigerated container capacity.
The new shore-power system has been developed in collaboration between vessel system providers Kongsberg Maritime Norway and WE Tech Solutions Finland and Quay side providers Siemens Australia/Germany and Cavotec Australia.
