Maritime Energy Management in Greece by the Use of Green Practices at Greek Ports (ePub)

The adoption of environment-friendly practices in ports around the world has gained significant momentum in recent years. It is a response to the growing concerns over climate change and environmental degradation. Greek ports are vital components of the trade and transportation of the country's infrastructure that have also embarked on this transformative journey towards sustainability. This study is conducted to evaluate the extent to which environmentally friendly practices include shore power, liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering, and emissions reduction technologies adopted in Greek ports and assess their impact on energy efficiency and emissions reduction. Greek ports are essential hubs for domestic and international maritime trade that facilitate the movement of goods and passengers. However, their operations traditionally relied heavily on fossil fuels that contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. In response to global environmental concerns and international regulations, Greek ports have begun adopting sustainable practices that aim to reduce their carbon footprint and enhance energy efficiency. For example, shore power allows vessels to connect to onshore electrical grids while berthed, reducing the need for auxiliary engines and lowering emissions (Qi et al., 2020). In contrast, LNG bunkering provides a cleaner alternative to conventional marine fuels, significantly decreasing sulfur and particulate matter emissions. In this regard, emissions reduction technologies encompass a range of measures that include exhaust gas cleaning systems, i.e., scrubbers and the use of cleaner fuels that aim to mitigate the environmental impact of maritime activities (Al-Enazi et al., 2021). The adoption of these practices in Greek ports is of paramount importance, not only to comply with international environmental regulations but also to safeguard the natural beauty and ecological integrity of coastal regions and islands of Greece. Furthermore, these sustainable initiatives can result in improved energy efficiency, cost savings for port operators, and enhanced competitiveness on the global stage. So, this chapter circumscribes the background, problem statement, purpose, research question, and theoretical foundations of this research that explain the key ideas, definitions, assumptions, scope, delimitations, and limitations of the study. This sets the basis for conducting this research while exploring the positive impact of green ports on maritime energy management in Greece.