Optimal charging strategy for ships and shore power

Introduction

As maritime transport becomes increasingly electrified, ports will need to ensure that vessels can access sufficient electrical power during their time at berth. Optimal charging strategies determine when, how fast and under which conditions electricity is delivered to ships connected to shore power systems or onboard batteries. By coordinating charging activities with vessel schedules, grid availability, demand from other activities in the port, electricity prices and renewable energy production, ports can reduce charging costs, avoid overloading local electricity infrastructure and minimise operational downtime. Charging optimisation is particularly important for battery-electric and hybrid-electric vessels, where charging opportunities are limited to port calls. Future charging strategies may also support vessel-to-grid interactions, battery swapping concepts and integrated energy management solutions within port environments.

Value proposition

Avoid unnecessary delays
Avoied excessive demand peaks in the elcetricity network
Reduce charging costs
Improve energy efficiency
Maximize utilization of existing infrastructure
Help minimize vessel turnaround time
Reduce locat netcongestion

Optimal vessel charging strategies allow ships to receive the required energy during planned berthing periods while avoiding unnecessary delays and excessive demand peaks in the electricity network. By aligning charging activities with vessel schedules, renewable energy availability and electricity market conditions, ports and vessel operators can reduce charging costs, improve energy efficiency and maximise utilisation of existing infrastructure. Smart charging can also help minimise vessel turnaround times by ensuring charging occurs during periods when vessels would already be idle. This reduces operational downtime while ensuring sufficient energy is available for the next voyage. Where battery storage systems are available, charging can further be coordinated to reduce stress on local grid infrastructure and improve the business case for port electrification.

Port applicability

Applicable to ports deploying shore power systems, charging infrastructure for battery-electric vessels, or future hybrid and fully electric shipping concepts. The concept is particularly relevant for ferry ports, inland ports, short-sea shipping terminals and offshore support ports where vessels frequently return to the same locations and regular charging opportunities exist.

Groups of innovations

Static Charging
Charging follows predefined schedules based on known vessel arrival and departure times. This approach is relatively simple to implement but provides limited flexibility.
Smart Vessel Charging
Charging schedules are continuously optimised based on berth occupancy, vessel energy requirements, electricity prices and grid constraints.
Charging During Off-Time
Charging activities are scheduled during periods when vessels are already moored or otherwise inactive. This minimises operational impacts and reduces the need for dedicated charging time.
Predictive Charging Optimisation
Forecasting tools use vessel schedules, weather conditions, renewable generation forecasts and electricity market information to optimise charging decisions ahead of time.
Battery-Supported Shore Power
Battery systems supply part of the charging demand during peak periods, reducing grid loading and increasing the number of vessels that can be served simultaneously.
MAGPIE Shore Power Peak Shaving demo
Integrated Vessel Energy Management
Future systems may coordinate onboard batteries, shore power systems, local storage assets and renewable energy sources to optimise charging and overall energy use.

Impact

Impact level per aspect
Impact	Level	Remark
GHG emissions (tankt-to-wake)	Large impact	Enables increased use of shore power and electric vessels, reducing emissions during port stays.
GHG emissions (well-to-wake)	Large impact	Supports the use of renewable electricity for vessel charging and shore power supply.
Air pollution	Very large impact	Significant reductions in NOx, PM and other local pollutants while vessels are berthed.
Lower energy consumption	Limited impact	Charging optimisation improves efficiency, although battery charging and conversion losses remain.
Operational efficiency	Very large impact	Minimises charging-related delays and maximises use of available berthing periods.
Infrastructure utilization	Large impact	Improves utilisation of charging infrastructure and shore power assets.
Digital port ecosystem	Large impact	Requires forecasting, scheduling and charging management platforms.
Port city impact	Very large impact	Reduces local emissions and noise in port-city interfaces.
Resilience	Medium impact	Battery-supported shore power can provide limited operational resilience during disruptions.

Port characteristics

The concept is particularly relevant for ports with significant electricity demand variations, high-power consumers, and limited grid connection capacity. Successful implementation requires access to operational data, forecasting capabilities, and digital energy management systems. Where batteries are included, economic viability often depends on combining multiple value streams such as peak shaving, energy optimization, and flexibility services. Site-specific regulatory conditions and electricity market rules strongly influence business cases and deployment potential.

Barriers and enablers

Enablers

EconomicEnabler
Reduced fuel consumption and lower operating costs for vessel operators can improve long-term business cases.
TechnologyEnabler
Charging systems, battery technologies and energy management platforms are rapidly maturing.

Barriers

EconomicBarrier
Shore power infrastructure, charging systems and battery-supported charging solutions require significant upfront investment.
KnowledgeBarrier
Limited experience with battery-electric vessels and charging strategies may slow deployment.
Standards & regulationBarrier
Lack of harmonised charging standards, shore power regulations and connection requirements may hinder implementation.
Stakeholder interactionBarrier
Successful implementation requires coordination between vessel operators, terminal operators, shore power operators and grid operators.
InfrastructureBarrier
Existing grid connections and shore power infrastructure may not provide sufficient capacity.
Technology and securityBarrier
Increased digitalisation creates cybersecurity and data protection challenges.

How to implement?

Step 1
Assess vessel calls, dwell times and charging needs
Port and vessel operators
Step 2
Pilot schedule-based smart charging
Shore power and terminal operators
Step 3
Add batteries and predictive optimization
Integrators, providers, DSO
Step 4
Operate integrated vessel charging
Port-vessel energy ecosystem

Timeline

The arrow below represents the expected development of the TRL of optimal charging strategy for ships and shore power.

What should a port do in the next 3 years?

• Assess current and future electricity demand profiles. • Map peak demand events and grid constraints. • Improve availability of real-time operational data. • Pilot forecasting and smart charging solutions. • Evaluate battery-supported charging strategies. • Develop an integrated energy management roadmap aligned with electrification plans.

Investment overview

CAPEX • Battery energy storage systems. • Advanced metering infrastructure. • Energy management and forecasting software. • Communication and control systems. • Power electronics and integration equipment. OPEX • Battery maintenance and replacement reserves. • Software licenses and cloud services. • Data management and forecasting support. • System operation and optimization activities. • Training of operational personnel.

Stakeholder overview

Below is an overview of the required involved stakeholders.

Blue stakeholders are essential, white stakeholders are enabling

Knowledge base

MAGPIE Deliverable D3.18 – Roll-out Plan for Peak Shaving Demonstrator.
MAGPIE Deliverable D3.15 – Physical Mock-up of Shore Power System with Integrated Energy Storage
MAGPIE deliverable D3.16 – Battery Design for SSCV Sleipnir
Port electrification and grid infrastructure: /factsheets/port-electrification (opens in new tab)
Cybersecurity: /factsheets/cybersecurity (opens in new tab)
Shore power: /factsheets/shore-power (opens in new tab)
MAGPIE Shore Power Peak Shaving demo: /products/shore-power-peak-shaving (opens in new tab)
MAGPIE Offshore charging e-tower demo: /products/offshore-charging-e-tower (opens in new tab)
MAGPIE Energy Matching Tool: /products/energy-matching (opens in new tab)