From the Globe
Business Desk
Pacific Gas and Electric
Company recently announced the first-ever successful
demonstration of liquid natural gas (LNG) “cold
ironing” at the Port of Oakland, the fourth
busiest container port in the U.S. The demonstration
marks a milestone in the development of technologies
to improve air quality in West Oakland and meet
emissions reduction targets set by the California
Air Resources Board (CARB).
“PG&E
is committed to developing clean-air transportation
technologies that benefit the communities we serve
and help to slow climate change,” said Brad
Whitcomb, vice president of customer products and
services for PG&E. “LNG cold ironing is
one of the most promising technologies to significantly
reduce at-berth ship emissions, which make up approximately
28 percent of all port emissions.”
Cold ironing is a process
where ships shut off their dieselpowered engines
and use shorebased power for their electrical needs,
preventing or significantly reducing harmful emissions
during each port visit. Mobile LNG cold ironing,
a concept originally developed by Wittmar Engineering
in 2001, provides even greater environmental and
cost benefits by offering a quick connection to a
significantly cleaner fuel source and precluding
the need for the installation of permanent infrastructure.
PG&E collaborated with APL, CleanAir Marine Power
(CAMP) and Wittmar Engineering to successfully cold
iron the first ship, APL’s 863-foot container
ship the APL China. During the July 18 demonstration
at the Port of Oakland, the APL China was cold ironed
for eight hours using the mobile LNG generator. Natural
gas provides significant emissions benefits and emits
zero diesel particulate matter, which is a carcinogen.
Based on the success of the demonstration,
the Wittmar LNG generator system has the potential to reduce a tremendous amount
of emissions from ships at berth. The Port of Oakland is considering a plan that
would use Wittmar LNG generators to cold iron every ship entering its port by
2010, 10 years in advance of CARB’s proposed regulations. In 2006, the
Port of Oakland received 1,940 ship calls with an average stay of 18 hours.
An
additional LNG cold ironing test is planned to take place at the Port of Richmond
later this year. |
