CENTREPORT has received $500,000 in funding to install shore power at a ferry wharf in Wellington.

The funding is from New Zealand’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority. The shore power would provide electricity for the Cook Strait ferries that berth at King’s Wharf.

CentrePort is partnering with the ferry company StraitNZ Bluebridge on the project.

The port said shore power would help the ferries reduce their overall fuel consumption, improving the quality of air in Wellington’s inner harbour.

CentrePort chief executive Anthony Delaney said the port is targeting net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040.

“We’re really proud to partner with StraitNZ to create shore power at King’s Wharf and to receive this support from the EECA,” he said.

“We’ve made great strides towards net-zero already, with a verified 31% reduction in emissions from our 2019 baseline, in part through a finance arrangement with New Zealand Green Investment Finance.”

Mr Delaney said a critical part of making shore power available to customers is for the port to generate and store energy.

“To enable this, we are building the CentrePort MicroGrid, which will combine embedded generation and storage on port, with capacity from an electrical connection to the Wellington grid.

“This means our microgrid could increase Wellington’s energy resilience, as power may have the potential to flow in either direction.”

Mr Delaney said shore power would replace conventional hydrocarbon fuels that ships would normally consume while in port.

Shore power at King’s Wharf also has the potential to increase Wellington’s energy resilience, according to the port, as electricity generated by ferries could flow back to shore to support lifeline utilities in emergency situations.

Mr Delaney said CentrePort has also invested in 100% electric container internal movement vehicles, removing diesel fuelled mobile plant and in a commitment to trial some of New Zealand’s first hydrogen powered trucks on CentrePort’s North Island logistics routes.

“We’re committed to providing certified measurement of emissions reduction within the supply chain,” he said.

“Our microgrid will also insulate our customers from energy price disruptions and supply uncertainty, as well as reduce CentrePort’s annual energy bill.

“The things we are doing to lower emissions complements our ongoing partnership with Zealandia to restore the Kaiwharawhara stream and increase biodiversity in Wellington.”