Scientists from the Wuhan University of Technology and the Center for Research on Microgrids in Shaoxing have presented the project for a hybrid energy system in Ningbo-Zhoushan, one of the largest ports in China and the world at large. Their paper describes a functioning model, offering a benchmark for other global harbors striving for decarbonization and energy stability.
The strategically important port of Ningbo-Zhoushan is one of the busiest seaports in the world. It has an intensive cargo flow, with a high density of berths and a large fleet of heavy equipment. To provide this infrastructure with a reliable and environmentally friendly energy supply, Chinese engineers set to developing a hybrid energy system in 2021, as part of the national project “Integration and application of multi-energy technologies in water transport and ports”. The resulting platform, launched in 2024, combines 12.5 megawatts of wind turbines, 3.66 megawatts of solar panels, 3.8 megawatt-hours of energy storage and a well-developed hydrogen infrastructure. Today, about half of the energy supplied to the port comes from renewable sources, with carbon dioxide emissions reduced by 22,000 tons per year.
At the center of the entire system is the production of hydrogen through alkaline electrolysis. Electricity from solar and wind is used to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. The extracted hydrogen is purified to a concentration reaching 99.9%, and enters a multi-level storage system under a pressure of 1.5–45 megapascals. It is then used either to generate electricity in stationary fuel cells or to refuel hydrogen equipment. This design is highly efficient: the electrolyzer and the fuel cells operate with an efficiency factor of 64.5% and 58.3%, respectively.
The port actively uses hydrogen equipment, namely, tractors and loaders. Tractors with a range of over 350 km and a refueling time of 8–12 minutes operate on standard logistics routes between berths and warehouses. Loaders can operate for up to 10 hours without recharging and require only 3–5 minutes to refuel. Unlike battery-powered equipment, hydrogen vehicles do not require long periods of downtime, which are critical in a port operating around the clock.
In addition to transport, hydrogen is also used for off-grid power generation: a 300-kilowatt fuel cell power plant operates in the port, providing infrastructure facilities with electricity and heat. Its combined use with energy storage devices makes it possible to level out peak loads and improve the stability of energy supply.
The system is built on the principle of using green energy for own needs and utilizing excess electricity for hydrogen production. As a result, hydrogen is not only used as a fuel, but also performs a key balancing function, making it possible to accumulate excess energy and use it during shortages. This solution offsets the irregularity of solar and wind, increasing the overall efficiency of the energy system.
The project is already proving cost-efficient: with an investment of about 39 million yuan (approximately 5.4 million dollars), the system brings in more than 4 million yuan in profit annually. This sets the payback period at less than 10 years. Savings are achieved mainly by phasing out diesel (hydrogen transport is 20% cheaper to operate) and recycling byproducts, such as oxygen obtained during electrolysis and sought after in industrial applications and healthcare.
The researchers believe that the experience of Ningbo-Zhoushan can serve as a prototype for the global transformation of port infrastructure. However, a large-scale implementation of these systems would require not only technological solutions, but also political support and international cooperation.
