A climate change mitigation strategy seen in the maritime sector is the electrification of berths through implementing shore power installations. The incorporation of grid-connected battery energy storage systems (BESS) into shore power installations, thereby creating hybrid installations, potentially accelerates the implementation of shore power. According to a gap in literature, this research evaluates the potential of various BESS to enhance the economic viability of shore power projects in the portal area in Rotterdam by prioritising consumer energy arbitrage and also trading on the day-ahead market, which is referred to as wholesale energy arbitrage.

This research consists of a techno-economic approach of assessing hybrid installations’ economic viability. First, a literature analysis provided insights in the most suitable BESS types for hybrid installations. Then, evaluation of various shore power projects in the port of Rotterdam resulted in the decision to focus on two impacting berths, namely on the Stena Line (SL) and the Cruise Port (CP) terminal. To assess the economic viability of hybrid installations, two models were designed, namely a BESS costs model and an energy management strategy algorithm. Eventually, the economic viability is evaluated by the net present value, the energy efficiency and effectiveness of the various hybrid installations.

This study reveals that none of the hybrid installations are economically feasible in the way they are examined. Nevertheless, it is indicated that lithium iron phosphate batteries are most suitable to enhance the economic viability of hybrid installations due to a high round-trip efficiency and low system costs. The energy demand of the SL terminal is smaller and more frequent compared to the CP terminal, thereby enhancing the potential of the BESS to cycle more often and to create more revenue. The research includes certain assumptions and uncertainties of which the individual impact on the outcome of the research is analysed. Also, potential scenarios ensuring economic viability are presented.