The Sustainable Power Advancement and Resiliency for Our Community Blueprint Project

This paper summarizes the Sustainable Power Advancement and Resiliency for Our Community blueprint project, which analyzed cargo handling equipment operations at the Port of Hueneme to determine the best mix of technologies for a transition to zero emission. Battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell alternatives were the primary two technologies considered. Alternatives were considered based on their ability to perform in the operating environment, operating cost, capital cost, and availability for deployment. Requirements and the basis were derived based on interviews with operators, as well as equipment utilization analysis based on cargo volumes and equipment duty cycles. Key stakeholders within the community were engaged throughout the process to integrate their input and share the key findings of the planning effort.

Based on the duty cycles, which are limited by the capacity of vessels that call on the port, battery electric was determined to be the optimal technology for cargo handling equipment deployments. With a higher technology readiness level than hydrogen cargo handling equipment, and a lower operating cost based on the relative cost of grid electricity and hydrogen, battery electric cargo handling equipment represents a commercially viable path to zero. The primary constraint is the timeline for expanding the current utility service to meet the growing power demands of the facility as zero emission cargo handling equipment is integrated at a commercial scale, along with shore power and other future loads. Funding will also be important to support infrastructure and operator equipment deployments.

Based on the findings from the analysis performed, converting all cargo handling equipment to zero emission alternatives by 2030 is attainable. Along with currently planned shore power and emissions capture systems for ocean-going vessels, this will address the port's largest sources of air pollutants, with the exception of harbor craft, rail, and drayage trucking.