This year’s GreenPort Cruise and Congress host, the Port of Amsterdam, has a strong green ethos. It wants to create a good balance between strong financial returns, whilst also caring for the environment, writes Anne-Marie Causer.
The Amsterdam port region is one of the world’s most important logistics hubs. With more than 97 million tonnes of cargo transhipment per year, it is one of the five largest seaports in Western Europe.
The Amsterdam port region comprises the ports of Amsterdam, Beverwijk, Zaandam and Velsen/IJmuiden.
The ports in the North Sea Canal area transhipped 97 million tonnes of goods in 2016, of which more than 79.2 million tonnes were handled by the Port of Amsterdam. A total of 68,000 people work at businesses in the port or at port-related businesses in the region. So the port is of huge significance to the region and its activities have plenty of impact.
Congress host
This past ten years Port of Amsterdam has made huge steps to become one of the leading sustainable ports in Europe. Given its ambition and the wish to bring people with green ideas together as a Port of Partnerships, the decision to host this year’s congress was easily made.
“This opportunity to discover, discuss and develop new ways of sustainable port development is our reason for hosting the congress,” Koen Overtoom, CEO of Port of Amsterdam, told GreenPort.
He said the port is well aware of society's growing concern about the port's environmental impact on the surrounding area and that of fossil fuels on the climate.
“As a result, we opt for sustainable growth, so that we will be one of Europe's leading sustainable ports by 2030. The need for energy transition and lower port emissions offers room for new opportunities. Examples include renewable energy generation and storage and transhipment of alternative energy sources and recyclable raw materials. We prefer to demonstrate sustainable leadership instead of waiting until legislation compels us to act.”
He added that the GreenPort Congress is the perfect connector to bring together companies, governments, civil society organisations and anyone who is interested in creating new insights in developing sustainability.
Sustainable port
The port approaches its environmental strategy on three levels. First and foremost, as a responsible organisation, it strives to be a role model by minimising its CO2 footprint and promoting good employer behaviour.
In addition, it says it’s working with its customers and partners to become a sustainable port that has a minimum impact on the surrounding area. Lastly, it encourages transparency and sustainability in the supply chain.
Green objectives
Amsterdam is aiming to lower its CO2 footprint by 25% by 2021, when compared with 2014 figures. This equates to a reduction of 591 tonnes of CO2, down from 2,364 tonnes in 2014 to a projected 1,773 tonnes in 2021.
In the past few years, it has made various efforts to reduce CO2 emissions. It has introduced hybrid company cars and renovated its port building, resulting in a significant reduction.
The modernisation of the port’s vessel fleet has also made a major contribution. In 2016, the port launched a pilot in which it began mixing 30% Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO, used cooking oil) with traditional fuel for its patrol vessels. Using this blend of fuel for all vehicles could provide a CO2 reduction of at least 14%.
The community
The Amsterdam Metropolitan Area is one of the most densely populated places in the world. The region continues to grow and an increasing number of people live, work and play closely together.
This proximity of local residents mean they can be more easily affected by activities in the port, so the port has been working hard to ensure it develops without increasing the pressure on the environment and the surrounding area.
Mr Overtoom told GreenPort that since the port is surrounded by a growing city, it must manage the limited space it has more effectively. It is increasingly taking into account noise, light and dust nuisance that could result from port activities.
As an example, Port of Amsterdam is working on replacing beeps from trucks by converting sound into less intrusive white noise. This is still effective for safety, but it does not travel as far, minimising nuisance significantly.
Clean options
Amsterdam is investing in shoreside power and LNG. With shoreside power the use of a generator is negated, which contributes to the environment and prevents noise nuisance.
In its quest to become a more sustainable port, Port of Amsterdam wants to attract as many clean ships as possible. Under the World Ports Climate Initiative (WPCI), Amsterdam signed up to the Environmental Ship Index (ESI), which gives a rebate on port dues for green seagoing vessels.
By 2021, at least 20% of the seagoing vessels that enter the port of Amsterdam will receive a rebate on port dues, because they are more environmentally friendly.
Innovative projects
The port provides space for innovative start-ups. It has a joint focus with Innovation Lab Chemistry Amsterdam (ILCA) to attract these type of businesses to the port.
One example of this is Prodock, a platform where ambitious entrepreneurs, leaders, pioneers and existing clients can test, develop and introduce innovative products in the field of biobased and circular economy, logistics, energy transition and safety.
Some examples are start-ups that have used the facility include a company that converts plastic waste into fuel and organic waste into animal nutrition.
Together with the Mainport Innovation Fund II (MIF II), Port of Amsterdam focuses on investments in start-up technology companies in the field of transport, logistics, maritime shipping and aviation. Its partners in this fund are Schiphol, KLM, TU Delft and NS.
Concrete results
Mr Overtoom said that these initiatives speak volumes for how far Port of Amsterdam has come with its sustainability strategy over the past ten years.
“Going back to 2008, we decided not to give new contracts to fossil energy related companies. Since then we have significantly reduced our CO2 emissions, installed shoreside power connections and invested in solar and wind power.”
“A sustainability policy is never finished. The rapidly changing reality requires continuous reflection, fine-tuning and feedback, with and from our customers, the surrounding area and civil society organisations.”
He added that the Port of Amsterdam sustainability agenda is constantly in development and it reports its progress and results on an annual basis.
The Port of Amsterdam produces heat for the city of Amsterdam and aims to get better in the production and storage of renewable energy.
By 2020, there will be 100,000 m2 of solar panels and 100 MW of wind power installed in the port region.
“Together with the prospects of an increase in the biofuels, the port region will be a significant regional, sustainable energy supplier. We want to become the “Battery for the city”,” Mr Overtoom said.
source: GreenPort
