Smart and Sustainable Energy Port
South Adriatic ports and terminals endeavour to enhance energy efficiency as energy prices have increased through years and climate change mitigation is a key target for the port industry. Stricter environmental regulations in Programme area ports must be adopted by authorities to limit pollutants and GHG emissions arising from energy consumption. Increasingly, port operational strategies and energy usage patterns are under scrutiny. To ingrain sustainability and environmental protection of ports, the adoption of RES and RUE standards appears as a critical conduit in achieving a transition from a carbon-intensive to a low-carbon port model by harnessing renewable energy, smarter power distribution and energy consumption systems. In this context, SMARTPORT project seeks to enhance SA ports’ energy profile by introducing eco-sustainable LED lighting system though 6-month long pilot actions in selected ports. Thanks to project "energy managers" will be trained enabling the durability and transferability of project results. The main project output is intervention strategy for ports’ energy efficiency that combines set of measures to formulate the existing processes and to focus further on actions to minimise energy usage including renewable energy sources, energy saving, energy storage and smart grid technology. The expected results are: improved port area capacity in sustainable energy planning according to EU standards; adoption of energy efficiency and sustainable energy production programs for public administrations; reduction of the gap in know-how and increase in capacity to increase energy efficiency in port areas; reduction of energy consumption and CO2 emissions in the selected port area. The new approach targets the context where energy projects are introduced, through higher involvement of local actors, shared vision and interaction. Programme area has untapped potential to reap economic advantages through further utilization of renewable energy.