Decarbonization of Ground Freight Related to Port Electrification

Objective

Investigate and leverage port Electrification technology deployment to enable adoption of electrified ground transportation vehicles which support port activities, with a secondary focus on grid capacity/integration methodologies to create a resilient power supply.

As technologies and infrastructure upgrades are being deployed to support electrified port activities, new opportunities are developing to integrate Zero-Carbon freight transport initiatives. Scaling up port vessel and ground-side “support vehicle” electrification will require high-level systems perspective and commitment. Though this task is focused on “non-captured freight vehicles” (i.e. vehicles that will leave the port boundaries), the study and understanding of the captured fleet will benefit the task in laying the ground work for the energy flow and load characteristics within the port. Attributes of port electrification which will impact freight operations include:

• Shore power systems (SPS), or cold ironing, are often a focus technology for electrified port projects and will rely on (or expand) grid capability

• E-Roads technologies are maturing and need dedicated fleet operations with high/consistent corridor traffic to justify investment

• Electrified drayage vehicles benefit from a dedicated point of connection (and opportunity charging) at the port origin/destination point of their route

• Grid capacity improvements required for port electrification may enable other alternative energy carrier production at ports, due to off peak energy generation availability (i.e. H2, Amonia, eFuels)

This task will:

• Investigate the relationships of port electrification to enable zero-carbon transportation technologies and distributive energy resource (DER) impacts

• Identify network of stakeholders to build partnerships for deployments

• Focus on key areas of HEV-TCP interest:

• Infrastructure for electrification of port activities including grid expansion, charging, vehicle or zero-carbon energy carrier production (i.e. Hydrogen or e-fuels)

• Study capacity/capability of port electrification upgrades in grid and resiliency impact for port operations and non-captured freight transport

• Understand and map energy usage and captured port vehicle architectures and loads

• Analysis of energy storage in addition to grid capacity improvements and to accommodate short duration peak loads

• Identify impact of national policies on port electrification initiatives and evaluate potential support transportation de-carbonization

• Share information and technology or R&D gaps with members and summarize deployments of sustainable freight activities