Roof-top solar energy for the port of Marseille Fos

Using the existing built-up areas to produce photovoltaic electricity and help ports in their sustainable strategy

Making port operations greener is one of the targets aimed by the public authorities and the sector players. One of the ways of reaching this is to install photovoltaic power stations, to electrify the quays and thus offer ships the possibility of using this network rather than running their diesel generator units.

Artelia is working with Fos Marseille on this strategy, helping to create solar power stations and adapt its electricity network by adding a number of additional delivery substations.

CONTEXT & ISSUES

Using built-up areas, rather than transforming new lands for energy production, now appears to be a virtuous way of deploying solar plants. At the same time, in response to the urgency of climate change, the port sector is striving to reduce its carbon footprint, by reviewing some of its practices and increasing the use of renewable and low-carbon energy sources in its supplies. Marseille Fos, France’s leading port in terms of freight and passenger traffic, is carrying out a number of initiatives in this area. In particular, it is electrifying its quays to enable ships to connect to this network rather than running their diesel-generator units, thereby reducing CO2 emissions.

Fos-Marseille has awarded Artelia an engineering contract for several projects. Our teams are working on the installation of a 9 MWp photovoltaic power plant, using 60,000m2 of building roofs. They are setting up two 18 MW delivery substations and are implementing a 50/60Hz converter/transformer substation, which is a first in France for this kind of capacity.