The Port of Oakland has set a new record for shore electricity use in the first six months of 2024.
The percentage of ships hooked into the Oakland Seaport electric system averaged 94 per cent in the first half of the year.
In comparison, the shore power plug-in rate for the entirety of 2023 was 85 per cent. Oakland’s air is cleaner as a result of increasing ship plug-ins.
Port of Oakland Environmental Programs and Planning Director, Colleen Liang, said: “Shore power is the single most effective way to reduce vessel emissions when a ship is in port. We appreciate the ship owners retrofitting their vessels for shore power. We also thank the terminal operators for coordinating and providing labor to physically plug in the ships that call Oakland.”
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Shore power occurs when a ship docks and connects to an electric grid at the wharf. This enables the ship to turn off its diesel engines, resulting in nearly zero vessel emissions while at dock.
In May, the port had a record ship plug-in rate of 99 per cent. Shore electricity use has exceeded 91 per cent since November 2023.
The port noted that it is constantly maintaining and improving its shore power infrastructure so that it is ready to provide electricity when ships arrive.
