On August the 5th, FEPORT submitted its response to the Call for Evidence on the European grid package. The package, planned for adoption by the fourth quarter of this year, is set to include measures related to the upgrade, digitalisation and expansion of European grid infrastructure, remove bottlenecks and enhance resilience and efficiency.
The position paper submitted by FEPORT highlights the need to remove permitting bottlenecks for projects aimed at grids’ expansion as well as projects in the field of renewable energy production in or close to ports, calling for a holistic approach when weighing renewable energy and wider decarbonisation projects which considers both immediate impacts on the environment, but also long-term benefits in terms of energy security and emission reductions.
In addition, FEPORT reply calls for priority access to grids for terminal operators and port ecosystems, considering their contribution to the decarbonisation of the (maritime) transport sector, cargo handling and industry. The “first come, first served” principle should be reconsidered in order to grant priority access to terminal operators and other port stakeholders and activities; as a growing number of EU regulations requires port stakeholders to electrify, it should be prevented that grid capacity becomes a limiting factor.
