Ports' technical and operational measures to reduce greenhouse gas emission and improve energy efficiency: A review

Abstract

This study reviews and categorises ports' technical and operational measures to reduce greenhouse gas emission and improve energy efficiency. Through a systematic review, both measures in the portside including land transport, and in the ship-port interface, were identified and structured into 7 main categories and 19 subcategories based on 214 studies. The measures' characteristics, abatement potential, best practices and key issues were clarified. The results show that there is insufficient research on ports in developing countries, as research is centred on developed countries' ports. Furthermore, it is unlikely that any single measure may lead to port decarbonisation owing to varying abatement potential, complexity, and cost. Therefore, assessments of feasibility and effectiveness to identify the best combination of measures are vital steps forward. In addition to the highlighted fertile research areas, the result of measures categorisation is considered a tool for policymakers and a basis for researchers to verify future agendas.

Keywords: CO2 emissions; Climate change; Energy efficiency; GHG emissions; Measures; Ports.