Final seminar and workshop of the EVISA-project: Greener ports - Tools for making ports more energy efficient and sustainable

Ports, as other organisations, have to consider the environmental impacts of their actions and also find out ways, how they can decrease their emissions. In the current situation, energy-efficiency and use of renewable energy sources is getting more attentions, even in the port sector. But what actions should individual ports take? In the EVISA project, the Water, Energy and Environmental Engineering research unit has developed tools for ports, which can be used to improve energy usage and efficiency, but also to define the current emission levels and what can be done with them.

Energy usage and emissions go hand in hand, which will be examined in detail in the seminar. The latest information about the current and upcoming emission reduction needs, which target the port sector, will be presented by experts working with these issues. In addition to this, the floor will be given to ports, which have taken significant steps in this field. Practical solutions, through which emission have decreased or ports have become more energy efficient, will be shared with the audience.

In the morning all eyes are on the big picture, whereas in the afternoon's workshop, the focus is on the outputs of the EVISA project itself. Members of the project group will present the self-assessment tools that have been developed for ports and assist the participants in using them. With the help of these tools, the ports can find out their status quo and the road, which can take them towards more sustainable and energy-efficient future.

The seminar and workshop are part of European Union's "European Maritime Day in My Country" series of events and will be held in English. The event is organised at the University of Oulu, but attendance is possible also remotely. Registration closes on 5th of October, see the separate link for registration above (visit event). Programme of the event is below (changes are possible).

09:00 - 09:30 Registration & morning coffee

09:30 - 09:45 Welcome words and introduction to EVISA project Jenni Ylä-Mella, University of Oulu

09:45 - 10:00 Introduction to the University of Oulu Eva Pongrácz, University of Oulu

10:00 - 10:30 Energy-wise ports through EU legislation? Finnish point of view on the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation Emmi Simonen, Ministry of Transport and Communications

10:30 - 11:00 Ports towards carbon neutrality Andreas Slotte, Port of Helsinki

11:00 - 11:30 Port digitalisation – Use cases in the Port of Kokkola Jyrki Roukala, Port of Kokkola

11:30 - 12:00 Industrial and social Symbiosis in Sotenäs Louise Staxäng-Torbäck & Emma Ek, Sotenäs municipality

12:00 - 12:30 Closing remarks for the morning session Kirsti Tarnanen-Sariola, Finnish port association

12:30 - 13:30 Lunch break

13:30 - 14:00 Workshop - part 1: mapping of port energy use

14:00 - 14:45 Workshop - part 2: calculating port carbon footprint

14:45 - 15:15 Coffee break

15:15 - 15:45 Workshop - part 3: assessing port solar energy potential

15:45 - 16:50 Workshop - part 4: developing energy management plan

16:50 - 17:00 Closing words