Renewable Generation and OPS Demand Optimisation in Ports: A Decision-Support Tool
E. Quiles-Cucarella(1), P. Larrea-Pajares(1), C. Roldán-Blay(2), C. Roldán-Porta(2), G. Escrivá-Escrivá(2) 1. Instituto Universitario de Automática e Informática Industrial, Universitat Politècnica de València, Valencia (Spain) 2. Institute for Energy Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de València, Valencia (Spain) 2026-06-27

Abstract

The electrification of port activities through Onshore Power Supply (OPS) and the integration of on-site renewables are key levers to reduce emissions, yet they also increase peak power requirements and operational exposure to price variability. Robust planning therefore requires consistent forecasting of future renewable generation and future demand (including OPS uptake), coupled with an optimisation layer to allocate renewable electricity and schedule hydrogen production via electrolysis. This work proposes a forecasting-and-optimisation methodology for port energy planning and presents its implementation as a decision-support tool.  Renewable generation is estimated from meteorological projections and technology performance models, while future port demand is projected from historical load patterns, and OPS demand is computed from call schedules and vessel technical characteristics. An optimisation model is run daily (day-ahead) to schedule renewable usage, grid imports and hydrogen production subject to operational constraints and cost/emission objectives. A case study of the application of the proposed methodology to the Port of Valencia is shown, producing comparable scenarios (baseline, OPS, renewables, and combined strategies) and KPIs including annual energy cost, peak demand, renewable share and CO₂ emissions. The resulting tool enables transparent, repeatable assessments to support investment screening and operational decision-making, contributing to the port’s transition towards a sustainable energy hub.

Key words: Onshore power supply, renewable energies, energy hub, forecasting, optimisation.

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