How to transform seaports into energy communities with photovoltaics and wave energy – pv magazine International

July 5, 2024 Lior Kahana

Researchers at Italy’s University of Naples Federico II have investigated the feasibility of creating renewable energy communities (RECs) in seaports. To do so, they created a numerical model based on European Union regulations, although they say their results can be generalized to other ports. Taking the Port of Naples as an example, they achieved a high rate of self-consumption and low life-cycle costs.

“Ports are specific anthropogenic systems characterized by high energy demand due to the multitude of activities carried out in port areas, including electricity for shipping, industrial operations and commercial facilities,” the researchers said. “Therefore, through end-use electrification and the development of collaborative renewable energy projects under the REC framework, ports can be transformed into renewable energy hubs, potentially providing surplus energy to surrounding communities.”

Using software such as MATLAB and PVsyst, the researchers created a numerical model for implementing PV systems, wave energy converters (WECs), and battery energy storage systems (BESSs). They then modeled the financial flow of the system and performed multi-objective optimization to find the best REC configuration.

They built a case study in the Port of Naples, which has a potential photovoltaic installation area of ​​106,100 m2, while the WECs are assumed to be located on the port breakwaters, extending for 1.5 km. Typical annual meteorological data of irradiance and wave profiles were used. The site receives a maximum of about 1000 Wh/m2 of global horizontal radiation, for an annual radiation of about 1600 kWh/m2. The maximum wave height reaches 2.5 m, with an average of 0.55 m.

“The analysis considers south-facing solar panels with an azimuth angle of 0 degrees and a tilt angle of 30 degrees, using commercial PV modules with a rated power of 315 W per module,” the researchers explained. “The oscillating water column (OWC) system is assumed to be the chosen technology for wave energy utilization.”

Assumed capital costs for PV are €1,200 ($1,295)/kW, €1,500/kW for WEC and €350/kW for BESS. The model considered PV installations up to 12 MW, WEC up to 5 MW and BESS up to 5 MWh.

In addition, the study considered seven RECs that can operate together or separately. The Port Authority REC (PA REC) consists primarily of the public area, while RECs 1-5 are entities grouped based on their proximity. The Port REC refers to one large port-wide energy community, with a peak demand of 3,800 kW.

“According to the information publicly available from the port authority, the main actors operating within the port boundaries can be divided into general companies, passenger sector operators, shipyards and commercial operators. All of them are energy users and potential stakeholders in the creation of RECs,” the researchers emphasized.

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According to them, system optimisation would enable the port REC to self-consume 90% and be self-sufficient 60%. This gives a life-cycle cost (LCC) over 20 years of €35 million, considering that port operators would otherwise spend €86 million. BESS leads to a 15% increase in energy self-consumption.

“The decision to establish one or more RECs in a port depends on the specific characteristics of the port,” the researchers concluded. “Optimization results showed that multiple RECs provide higher total revenues and lead to lower LCC (EUR 19 million vs. EUR 35 million) compared to the implementation of a single REC in ports. However, virtual self-consumption decreases slightly to 81%.”

The researchers suggested that “the complexity of managing renewable energy resources in ports can be solved by centralized management of multiple RECs in ports through synergy between the Port Authority, port operators, REC members and external entities. We proposed a management model that encompasses them all and introduces supervised allocation of new members, dividing management roles between central management and individual RECs. In this way, ports can offer more competitive and cost-effective services to port users.”

The results of their research are presented in the article “Empowering Seaports with Renewable Energy within an Enabling Energy Communities Framework” published on Energy conversion and management. Scientists from Canada’s Concordia University also participated in the study.