According to the Financial Review, power technology group ABB is about to start a pilot project at the Port of Melbourne providing docked ships with electricity from shore, enabling them to turn off their generators in port, reducing emissions.
Critics of the plan say it will just transfer the environmental cost inland, to coal-generating stations whose emissions are more damaging than those resulting from burning diesel fuel. Transmission losses arising from transferring power over long distances will result in additional inefficiencies.
If the plan goes ahead, it is expected to provide new revenue for the port. ABB hopes to roll out the technology in ports around Australia.
