Climate and environmentally friendly energy supply along the waterway
The provision of shore-side power supply for stationary cargo and passenger vessels at landing stages makes an important contribution to the environmental compatibility of inland waterway transport. By connecting to the energy terminals of the shore-side power supply systems on the Austrian Danube, stationary large vessels can supply their electronics with energy without having to use their diesel-powered on-board generators. This avoids pollutant, CO2 and noise emissions while they are moored. The use of shore power systems is therefore particularly valuable in residential and nature conservation areas. At the same time, fuel consumption and wear on diesel generators can be avoided or reduced during layovers.
Technical specifications
Due to their different sizes and onboard equipment, cargo and cruise vessels have distinct technical requirements for shore power supply. Both types of ships require a 400-volt high-voltage current. However, cargo vessels can operate with currents of up to 63 amps because of their significantly lower energy demand, whereas modern cruise ships often require several hundred amps. These differing requirements necessitate distinct technical designs for shore power systems and plug connections.
Shore power for cargo shipping
While shore power facilities for cargo shipping were already available in Austrian ports, viadonau has been pushing ahead with the expansion of shore power facilities at public moorings along the Danube for several years. Energy terminals are to provide several CEE plugs for currents of 16 A, 32 A and 63 A. Such terminals are already in operation at three moorings in Linz, Vienna and Wildungsmauer. In the current pilot phase, electricity is being supplied free of charge. By 2027, terminals are to be implemented at six further moorings in Upper Austria, Lower Austria and Vienna. The measures are co-financed by the EU project ‘FAIRway works! In the Rhine-Danube Corridor’ and ‘FAIRway Danube 2’ as part of the EU's Connecting Europe Facility (CEF).
Shore power for cruise vessels
Cruise vessels do not usually dock at public mooring places, but at private berths designed for embarking and disembarking passengers. Here, shore power systems are implemented by the responsible energy supply companies of the federal states of Upper Austria, Lower Austria and Vienna, with the involvement of the ministry, the respective grid, port and berth operators, federal states, municipalities and other stakeholders. viadonau assumes a coordinating role in this process. High-performance Powerlock systems for currents of several hundred amps have already been implemented in Engelhartszell, Linz, Melk and Krems on the Danube. In addition, the port of Linz provides shore power for cruise vessels that are moored there outside the tourist season in winter.
