E-Harbours aimed to create a lasting change towards sustainable energy logistics for North Sea Region harbour cities. It set innovative energy standards to create a transformation of the energy network in harbour areas. Showcases provided examples for the North Sea Region, guided by a European expert platform. By doing this, the project implemented EU energy policies, developed innovative solutions and allowed economic growth.

Innovation in different fields and an integrated approach were strongly needed. Smart energy networks and electric mobility were both vital aspects and strongly related to each other. The partnership consisted of key organizations to create a change: public authorities, municipal harbour/energy companies and national knowledge centres from the North Sea Region.

Aim
The aim of E-Harbours was a transformation of the energy network in North Sea Region harbour cities towards a more sustainable and accessible energy model. This was achieved by setting/implementing new standards with a focus on two key aspects: virtual power plants for industrial end-users and electric mobility.

The partnership aimed to:

• Enlarge the uptake of renewable energy
• Enlarge energy efficiency strongly
• Integrate the electric mobility
• Maintain the stability of the energy network.

The partners aimed to set new, high level standards for future energy management in North Sea Region harbours and feed into ambitions of the EU/National policies. E-Harbours created a transnational knowledge platform and methodology for optimal integration of renewables in highly energy intensive harbour cities using as much as possible all available features as electric cars, electric boats, flexible consumption patterns of industrial end-users and ICT-infrastructures.

Background
Harbours are the connection nodes between river, sea and land, rich in resources and densely populated, especially in the North Sea Region. Around these harbours, the North Sea Region economy has developed itself over the last centuries. Good infrastructure and intelligent logistics have always been a key element.

These harbours are now facing global competition, logistic difficulties and environmental problems: a high level of CO2 production, high level of energy use, low level of energy efficiency, low level of renewable energy production and reduction of economic growth due to negative environmental impacts. The challenge is to innovate the logistic system and improve the environment at the same time. The combination of smart grids and electric transport is very promising for this.

The challenge of the harbours is exemplary for Europe: creating a low carbon society and be leading as innovative knowledge economy. The EU has set an ambitious 20-20-20 agenda: energy consumption < 20%, CO2 emissions < 20% and renewable energy > 20% in 2020 (Renewable Energy Directive).

• Implemention of 7 innovative show cases in the participating harbour areas
• Creation of a Virtual Power Plant (VPP): transnational methodology for optimal integration of renewable energy sources in a highly energy intensive harbour cities
• Creation of a framework (technical, economical, organizational) for large scale implementation of E-Harbours in the North Sea Region.