The Week in Alt Fuels: The price of plugging in

AI Summary

The article examines the costs and pricing models for shore power, which allows ships to connect to the electricity grid while berthed and shut down auxiliary engines. It compares approaches in Europe, China, and the United States, highlighting the challenge of making the emissions-reduction option economically attractive.

Shore power promises cleaner air at ports and lower emissions at berth. But from Europe to China to the US, different pricing models make the cost of plugging in far less straightforward than it sounds. Shore power sounds simple. Ships plug into the grid and switch off their auxiliary engines, cutting emissions at berth. But ...