Ports of Stockholm - Experts & Thought Leaders

Ports of Stockholm is building six new rooftop solar cell systems that will increase the company's own solar electricity production by 55 percent. This is fully aligned with the company’s and the City of Stockholm’s goals and strategies. Ports of Stockholm has taken an investment decision in June to increase the company's own production of solar electricity. This decision means expanding the number of solar cell system installations to increase internal solar electricity production by 55 percent. City of Stockholm's strategy “Ports of Stockholm's investment in solar electricity is fully aligned with our environmental goals. This decision means that in future almost one-tenth of the electricity we use will be generated by our own solar cell systems,” explains Jens Holm, Chair of the Board of Ports of Stockholm. Ports of Stockholm has worked for many years according to the City of Stockholm's strategy to achieve a fossil fuel-free Stockholm by 2040. Within the sustainable energy area, Ports of Stockholm has increased its own production of renewable energy and has chosen to invest in solar cell systems. New installations The new installations are planned for rooftops at Frihamnen, Värtahamnen and Port of Kapellskär Ports of Stockholm currently has five solar cell system installations that have a total production capacity of 995 MWh/year. Now the number of solar cell systems will increase to eleven, with a total production capacity of 1,545 MWh/year. The new installations are planned for rooftops at Frihamnen Port, Värtahamnen Port and Port of Kapellskär. Construction work is estimated to begin during Q1/Q2 in 2024 and the systems will be operational by the summer of 2024. Producing the company's own energy using solar cells means that Ports of Stockholm is less dependent on external electricity suppliers and can also reduce the electricity costs of its own business operations. The systems will also contribute to the company's environmental goals of more efficient energy use by reducing electricity grid transmission losses, as the electricity will be produced very close to where it will be used. Sustainable port operations and shipping Ports of Stockholm works actively, long-term and strategically for sustainable port operations and shipping. Environmental initiatives are an integrated part of daily business operations.  The company previously set a goal to increase the proportion of solar electricity by 50 percent by 2026. According to the time plan for the new solar cell installations, this goal will be achieved already in 2024.

Ports of Stockholm, in collaboration with several partners, has been awarded research funding from the Swedish Transport Agency for research into autonomous shipping in an urban city environment. The aim of the research project is to explore and develop the safety aspects and create new pre-conditions for maritime sustainability and mobility services, in addition to strengthening Stockholm’s position from an international perspective. Ports of Stockholm secures research funding RISE is coordinating the research project, which has the name - PLUZ Policy Lab Urban Zjöfart Ports of Stockholm and its collaborative partners have been awarded funding from the Swedish Transport Agency maritime transport research and innovation portfolio. Research Institutes of Sweden (RISE) is coordinating the research project, which has the name - PLUZ Policy Lab Urban Zjöfart. Other actors participating in the project are Norwegian shipping company - Torghatten, technology supplier - Zeabuz, Det Norske Veritas Sweden (DNV), who work with vessel classification and certification, as well as the Vattenbussen AB organisation, which focuses on efficient use of resources and the potential of waterways to contribute to a sustainable society. Develop the safety aspects of innovative autonomous vessels Ports of Stockholm’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Magdalena Bosson, said “Being part of a joint effort to explore and develop the safety aspects of innovative autonomous vessels is fully aligned with the City of Stockholm’s quays strategy, where one of the focus areas is research and development of urban water-borne transport.” Magdalena Bosson adds, “We are also looking forward to the potential the project has to strengthen Stockholm’s and Sweden’s standing internationally in the area of development of maritime sustainability and mobility.” Ports of Stockholm and Torghatten partnership Ports of Stockholm’s newest customer, shipping company - Torghatten, has already announced the introduction this spring of an electrically powered autonomously operated ferry service in central Stockholm. This joint research project will explore the safety aspects of remotely operated water-borne passenger services and, thanks to the introduction of the autonomous ferry service, which will initially have an operator aboard, there is a practical example of operations in Stockholm to base studies on. Introduction of the new Stockholm ferry service Reidun Svarva, the Business Development Manager at the Torghatten AS shipping company, said “The concept behind the project is to investigate the inherent policy-related challenges of autonomous operation, both prior to and in parallel with the introduction of the new Stockholm service." The research project is a further step towards being able to use autonomous technology at sea Reidun Svarva adds, "This is important when we transition from the stage of having an operator aboard to being a service that is monitored and controlled remotely from a control room on the mainland.” The research project is a further step towards being able to use autonomous technology at sea. This means ensuring responsible and safe development, as well as the need to review this new service type with regard to the existing rules and regulations. Autonomous vessels - solving cost-efficient transport challenges Zeabuz’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Erik Dyrkoren, said “Autonomous vessels can be the key to solving cost-efficient transport challenges, but a predictable regulations framework is needed to be able to achieve full benefit from the possibilities." Erik Dyrkoren adds, "The knowledge we will build in this project can establish new prerequisites for autonomous systems and policies, so that new transport solutions can be introduced." The Vattenbussen AB firm was founded with the concept of reducing climate impact through greater use of waterways, instead of investing in expensive infrastructure facilities that carry a risk of creating even more climate damage. Autonomous technology to help lower climate impact With the autonomous technology, the ferry services can function as a floating bridge or tunnel" Susanna Hall Kihl, the Managing Director of Vattenbussen AB, said “For commuters, the frequency of services is often a decisive factor. With the autonomous technology, the ferry services can function as a floating bridge or tunnel, with a lower impact on the climate than traditional forms of infrastructure.” Susanna Hall Kihl adds, “This project is a first and important step to being able to introduce new and attractive options for cyclists and pedestrians in the future.” The research project will run from February 2023 until February 2025. PLUZ Policy Lab Urban Zjöfart research project “The solutions and regulations in the area of the maritime industry related to autonomous development are an important part of our operations. We are very much looking forward to gaining more knowledge and contributing to this project,” states Mikael Johansson, the Head of Maritime Advisory Sweden & Denmark at DNV AB. The PLUZ Policy Lab Urban Zjöfart research project is a continuation of the Smarta Fartyg innovation project, which is also coordinated by RISE.

A new Ports of Stockholm customer, shipping company - Torghatten, will this spring introduce an electrically powered autonomously operated ferry service across Riddarfjärden in the Stockholm city centre. The initiative is a sustainable and innovative addition for the general public and is fully aligned with Stockholm’s quays strategy. Norwegian shipping company - Torghatten plans to have services in place this spring in Riddarfjärden, between two inner-city quays. The ferry that will operate on the crossing is an autonomously operated electric vessel that runs on batteries. It has been designed and built by the Bröderna Aa shipyard in Hyen, Norway and the autonomous operation system is provided by technology supplier - Zeabuz in Trondheim, Norway. Initiative aligns with Ports of Stockholm’s quay strategy The initiative is fully aligned with Ports of Stockholm’s quay strategy The initiative is fully aligned with Ports of Stockholm’s quay strategy, which has been developed together with the City of Stockholm, with the intention of creating more vibrant city-life at the inner-city quays, in addition of providing good preconditions for shipping and water-borne transport. “Many of the major cities around the world have problems with traffic congestion, capacity and environmental and air pollutants. Our innovative technology solution, the first of its kind in the world, creates real sustainable urban mobility,” says Reidun Svarva, the Business Development Manager at shipping company - Torghatten AS. Torghatten and Zeabuz jointly design new ferry Torghatten and Zeabuz intend that the ferry will run 15 hours per day. The batteries will then be recharged overnight. The ferry can carry 24 passengers. “It is pleasing to see a new boat service being introduced that makes commuter life in Stockholm easier. In a city predominantly built on islands, water-borne traffic has the potential to contribute even more to sustainable transports. The autonomously operated ferry crossing of Riddarfjärden is an innovative addition that will hopefully be a great asset to the city’s residents,” says Clara Lindblom, Chair of the Board at Ports of Stockholm. Software tested in service operations Initially, there will be an operator aboard to make sure everything works as it should Prior to the service coming into operation in Stockholm, the software has been tested in service operations with passengers in Trondheim. Technology supplier - Zeabuz has also developed their own simulator to perform thousands of virtual crossings of Riddarfjärden before the ferry is launched. Initially, there will be an operator aboard to make sure everything works as it should. After that, the ferry will be operated entirely from a land-based control room. New ferry service for Stockholm “A ferry running without a manual operator might sound a bit risky, but it is just as safe to use an autonomous ferry as a conventional ferry,” said Reidun Svarva, adding “The residents of Stockholm can feel safe in the knowledge that our 150 years of experience from the shipping business in Norway means we are doing this in a safe way.” In June 2022 the Stockholm Municipal Council ratified a new quay strategy for Stockholm’s beautiful and popular inner-city quays. Much of the work involves assuring there are more possibilities for water-borne shipping and transport alternatives in the heart of the city, among other things through developing strategic quay locations for public transport.