Sophie Rouan's Report Brings Operational Experience to the AFIR Review Debate

EOPSA welcomes an important contribution to the future of Onshore Power Supply

EOPSA warmly welcomes the publication of Sophie Rouan's report, Connexion Électrique des Navires à Quai – Cadre réglementaire européen de 2023. At a time when Europe is preparing for the scheduled reviews of the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR) and FuelEU Maritime, this report provides a timely and valuable contribution to the discussion on how Onshore Power Supply (OPS) can be deployed more effectively across European ports.

As Europe's independent association dedicated exclusively to accelerating the deployment of OPS, EOPSA firmly believes that the conversation has now moved beyond the question of whether shore power should be implemented. The challenge is no longer one of ambition, but of execution. Europe must now ensure that the regulatory framework enables infrastructure to be delivered rapidly, economically and at scale while maximising environmental benefits.

Importantly, this report does not question the value of shore power. On the contrary, it recognises OPS as one of the most effective technologies available today for eliminating emissions at berth, improving air quality, reducing noise and supporting the decarbonisation of ports and shipping. Rather than arguing for delay, it focuses on how Europe can optimise implementation so that investments deliver the greatest possible operational, environmental and financial return.

Drawing on extensive operational experience within the Port of Marseille, together with exchanges across numerous European and international ports, the report examines several areas where the forthcoming reviews of AFIR and FuelEU could strengthen the effectiveness of the regulatory framework.

Among its recommendations, the report suggests that AFIR should better reflect the operational reality of ports by considering compliance at the level of the terminal, rather than the broader "maritime port". Since terminals differ significantly in traffic profiles, vessel categories and electricity demand, such an approach could improve investment efficiency while avoiding under-utilised infrastructure.

Another important discussion concerns the scope of AFIR. Today, the regulation primarily targets container vessels, ferries, ro-pax vessels and cruise ships. The report proposes progressively extending the framework to Short Sea Shipping, arguing that its frequent and predictable operations make it particularly well suited for wider deployment of shore power while delivering substantial environmental benefits in Europe's coastal communities.

The report also opens an interesting technical discussion regarding electrical frequency. It argues that European ports serving Short Sea Shipping should standardise future shore power installations around the European 50 Hz electricity network, while vessels operating exclusively within Europe should ensure onboard compatibility where necessary. According to the report, this could significantly reduce infrastructure costs, maintenance requirements and energy losses associated with frequency conversion.

Governance also receives considerable attention. The report argues that the respective roles of port authorities and terminal operators should be clarified so that responsibilities for investment and operation align with the commercial realities of terminal management. Such clarity, it suggests, would facilitate more efficient deployment while avoiding unnecessary duplication of infrastructure.

For EOPSA, these discussions are particularly relevant because they illustrate the next stage in Europe's decarbonisation journey. The objective is no longer simply to install shore power connections. Increasingly, OPS must be considered within a broader energy ecosystem where ports evolve into integrated energy hubs, combining grid infrastructure, renewable generation, battery storage, energy management systems and future alternative fuels.

At the same time, EOPSA believes it is essential that operational challenges, whether related to grid capacity, governance, technical standards or investment models, are addressed as implementation challenges, not as reasons to delay deployment. Europe has already taken the strategic decision to decarbonise its ports and shipping. The task now is to ensure that regulation supports rapid, practical and economically sustainable delivery.

As the European Commission begins its reviews of AFIR and FuelEU, reports such as this provide valuable operational insight from practitioners directly involved in delivering shore power projects. Whether policymakers ultimately adopt every recommendation or not, the report makes an important contribution by encouraging evidence-based discussion on how Europe's regulatory framework can evolve to accelerate deployment while improving efficiency.

EOPSA warmly congratulates Sophie Rouan on this comprehensive piece of work and encourages policymakers, ports, terminal operators, shipowners and the wider maritime community to engage with the report as part of the ongoing dialogue on the future of Onshore Power Supply in Europe.