Future energy management of port microgrids considering dual fuel engines and On-Shore Power Supply

In recent years, port energy management and emission reduction have become increasingly critical challenges for many ports. The development of port microgrids has addressed this issue partially; however, vessel emissions while at berth are still considered a problem that needs to be mitigated. One suggested solution for this issue is to employ an On-Shore Power Supply (OPS) system, also known as cold ironing, which allows vessels to get connected to the port’s electrical network rather than relying on marine fuels like Very Low Sulfur Fuel Oil (VLSFO) or Marine Gas Oil (MGO). As vessel traffic increases and most ships continue to run on conventional marine fuels, OPS can provide a direct method to decrease vessels’ emissions. Another alternative solution is shifting to cleaner fuels for vessel consumption, such as Liquid Natural Gas (LNG). This transition requires vessels to be equipped with dual fuel engines, capable of switching between two types of fuels. Therefore, developing an OPS system or installing dual fuel engines are considered two possible options for future ports. In this study, two optimization frameworks are developed to evaluate and compare the port and vessels daily operation using OPS systems and dual fuel engines. This comparison is conducted from both economic and environmental perspectives.