Port authority launches tender for zero-emission shore power lead partner
Tender seeks a lead partner to develop a shore power project supporting zero-emission vessels, highlighting growing demand for clean maritime infrastructure.
Tender seeks a lead partner to develop a shore power project supporting zero-emission vessels, highlighting growing demand for clean maritime infrastructure.
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Belfast Harbour has gone to market for a lead partner to coordinate an application for a shore power infrastructure project under the ZEVI 2 Scheme, signalling a move to support zero-emission vessels at the port.
The contract notice, published on 10th July 2026, states that BHC is seeking a lead partner “to coordinate an application for a shore power infrastructure project at Belfast Harbour under the ZEVI 2 Scheme”. The wording places the emphasis on early-stage work: preparing a bid and bringing together the inputs needed to secure support for the scheme.
The project is framed around zero-emission vessels and supporting infrastructure, reflected in the title of the notice and in references to the Zero Emission Vessels and Infrastructure (ZEVI) 2 scheme. Rather than going straight to detailed design or construction, BHC is first looking for a strategic partner that can front the application process.
Although the notice does not set out technical or commercial requirements in detail, similar procurements suggest what may sit in scope for such a role. Public bodies commissioning charging and shore power projects routinely expect lead organisations to co‑ordinate stakeholders, align designs with local constraints, and ensure that long-term operation and maintenance can be funded and delivered.
Belfast Harbour’s move comes as other maritime authorities invest in shore‑to‑ship power. In June 2026, the Northern Lighthouse Board published a prior information notice for a Cable Management System for shore-to-ship power at its Oban base to support the vessel NLV Pole Star. That project is explicitly linked to “environmental sustainability and operational efficiency”, while also addressing specific site challenges.
On the Continent, the Special Fund Port for Bremerhaven, represented by bremenports GmbH & Co. KG, launched a contract in May 2026 for the supply of green electricity to five shore power systems. The aim there is to provide electrical energy to seagoing ships during their port stay, allowing ship engines to be turned off while alongside.
Taken together, these notices show how shore power is moving from pilot projects into mainstream port investment. Hardware such as cable management systems now sits alongside long-term electricity supply contracts, creating an integrated solution that can cut emissions and noise in port areas.
Against that backdrop, Belfast Harbour’s ZEVI 2 project is at an earlier stage, focused on securing support rather than procuring construction. But the direction of travel is similar: connect vessels to onshore power so that their auxiliary engines do not have to run while in harbour, and do so in a way that aligns with wider energy and climate objectives.
The shore power push also sits within a much broader wave of public procurement for electric vehicle charging and clean power infrastructure. Across local government, housing, transport and education, buyers are seeking partners who can design, build, operate and maintain systems that support zero-emission mobility.
In May 2026, Lancashire County Council issued a contract notice for an Electric Vehicle Charging Initiative aimed at helping local authorities in England roll out public charging points, particularly for residents without off‑street parking, using the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure fund. The West of England Combined Authority followed in June 2026 with a tender for Electric Vehicle Charging Services to support on‑street charging for similar user groups. And in June 2026, Shropshire Council published a prior information notice for LEVI Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure, stressing “equitable access” and the need to prepare for increased electric vehicle adoption by 2035.
Social and affordable housing providers are heading in the same direction. In February 2026, London & Quadrant Housing Trust signalled plans for EV Charging Infrastructure Services, making clear that the operator would be responsible for design, installation, maintenance, managing necessary approvals and ongoing support and asset management. Yorkshire Housing’s March 2026 market engagement for Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure seeks a partner to develop and manage EV charging, including existing systems, as part of its wider decarbonisation efforts. In May 2026, Places for People and Anchor Hanover Group described a need for comprehensive EV Infrastructure Management and Installation services across social housing and care locations.
Fleet operators are also reshaping their infrastructure. Transport for London’s April 2026 prior information notice on Zero Emission Fleet Infrastructure sets out an ambition to install around 400 electric vehicle charge points to support a net zero vehicle fleet by 2030, using a questionnaire to gather market insight that will inform its procurement strategy. In May 2026, Surrey County Council outlined an initiative for Zero Emission Bus Expansion, with vehicle specifications contingent on operational and logistical factors.
Municipal and regional operators elsewhere in Europe are pairing vehicles with charging from the outset. Balvu novada pašvaldība plans to buy Electric Buses and Charging Units under an EU Cohesion Policy programme aimed at climate neutrality. Miejskie Przedsiębiorstwo Komunikacyjne w Częstochowie S.A. has gone to market for a Zero-Emission Bus Fleet Procurement that includes charging infrastructure, employee training, documentation, tools and servicing authorisation. In June 2026, the roads and transport authority in Koszalin launched a contract for Electric City Buses and Chargers as part of a zero-emission mobility project.
In parallel, some buyers are integrating on-site generation and building systems with their charging plans. The Landesamt für Umwelt in Germany is procuring a service and charging station with photovoltaic systems for bikes and e‑bikes at the Seezeit‑Resort Werbellinsee as part of the EU‑LIFE Project ZENAPA. Želivská rozvojová a.s. is contracting for supplies of a floating photovoltaic plant, battery storage and an energy management system for the Želivka Water Treatment Plant. And HafenCity Hamburg GmbH has tendered works for High Voltage Systems for a zero-emission office designed to be CO2‑neutral, with timber construction and urban greening woven into the brief.
Across these notices, several themes stand out that are likely to be relevant for Belfast Harbour’s search for a ZEVI 2 lead partner.
For potential lead partners, the lesson is that technical expertise alone is unlikely to be sufficient. Buyers increasingly expect a blend of engineering capability, programme management, stakeholder engagement and a demonstrable contribution to climate and air‑quality goals.
The appointment of a lead partner will shape how Belfast Harbour’s ZEVI 2 application is developed and presented. If the bid is successful, experience from other ports and transport authorities suggests that further procurements could follow for detailed design, construction, operation and energy supply, as projects move from planning into delivery.
More broadly, the run of recent tenders from ports, lighthouse authorities, local governments, housing providers, universities and national agencies indicates that shore power and electric charging projects are becoming a core part of public‑sector infrastructure investment. Suppliers that can translate lessons from road transport and building electrification into the maritime context will be well placed as Belfast Harbour, and others, take their next steps on shore power.
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